The Los Angeles Rams will be without their leading tackler for their game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Linebacker Ernest Jones will miss Week 9 due to a knee injury, according to the team’s injury report on Friday.
Jones, a third-year player out of South Carolina, began experiencing knee swelling before to the Rams’ Week 6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Jones has played in every game this season, but his workload was considerably reduced against the Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers a week later, with Jones accounting for around 80% of his team’s defensive snaps. The 23-year-old’s condition improved ahead of last Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, when he played 98% of Los Angeles’ defensive snaps.
Jones did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, so his final assignment against the Packers came as no surprise. According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, his absence leaves defensive green-dot duties to safety Jordan Fuller on Sunday. With Jones out, expect linebackers Troy Reeder and Jake Hummel to see more playing time. In the absence of Jones, versatile defensive back Quentin Lake could play a larger role than usual, especially if Los Angeles defensive coordinator Raheem Morris deploys more sub packages.
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The Rams enter Week 9 with a 3-5 record and two straight losses. While Jones is the only starter who has already been ruled out for Sunday’s game, Los Angeles might be incredibly shorthanded against the Packers. The availability of star quarterback Matthew Stafford, exceptional rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua, offensive tackle Rob Havenstein, cornerback Cobie Durant, and defensive tackle Larrell Murchison in Green Bay is all in doubt.
The Rams and Packers kick off at 10:00 a.m. (PT) from Lambeau Field.
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