RENTON — Though the Seahawks defense appeared to take a step forward in Sunday’s 34-14 win in Atlanta, the team made another move Wednesday with the goal of continued upward trajectory.
Seattle, 4-3, sent linebacker Jerome Baker and a draft pick to the Tennessee Titans for Ernest Jones IV. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that the compensation is a fourth-round pick. Jones will be 25 next month.
“A guy that we’ve had respect for for a long time,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “Just a really good football player.”
“He does a lot of things really well,” Macdonald said. “Making tackles, staying square at the point of attack, he’s physical, he plays really hard, also a good blitzer as well off the ball. Coverage skills I think are pretty dang good as well. “
Macdonald said that the 6-foot-2, 233-pound Jones would be ready to play on Sunday, and would likely play the “Mike” middle linebacker spot. Tyrel Dodson would slide over to the “Will” weakside linebacker position that he occupied next to Buffalo Bills All-Pro Matt Milano. Dodson will continue to wear the green dot on his jersey and call out the defensive plays.
Jones played for Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, who was the defensive backs coach last season with Macdonald in Baltimore. The Seahawks hope the familiarity makes the move fairly seamless.
“Hopefully the (defensive) language carries over a good bit so that the learning curve is flattened out,” Macdonald said. “… I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of carryover.”
Jones, a third-round pick out of South Carolina in 2021, played for Tennessee this year after spending his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. In 2023, he recorded 145 tackles, including 4.5 sacks.
Baker, 27, who had spent the previous five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, played five games for the Seahawks this season after coming off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. He recorded 30 tackles and a sack.
Macdonald said the linebackers had played well enough for a 4-3 record, but indicated he’s looking for improvement.
“This is not an indictment on Jerome at all,” Macdonald said. “It’s just an opportunity for us to make a move that’s really good for our football team, we think, and we’re excited to do it.”
Lucas, Fant return to practice
The Seahawks designated offensive linemen Abe Lucas and George Fant to return to practice. Both are eligible to practice for up to 21 days before the team has to add either to the active roster.
Lucas, who started at right tackle the past two seasons when healthy, had been on the PUP list throughout training camp and during the first seven games of the season after January knee surgery.
Macdonald said he joked with Lucas about pointing out what shoulder pads are because it’s been so long since he’s been able to fully practice. He said they’ve got a “really good plan” to bring Lucas up to full speed, which means he’s unlikely to play in the next game or two.
The Seahawks have a bye week after games against the Bills (Sunday) and the Rams on Nov. 3. Macdonald said the team is targeting the Nov. 17 game against San Francisco as a potential return for Lucas.
“This guy has been working his tail off,” Macdonald said. “It’s not easy to kind of be doing your own thing, training and strengthening a leg. It’s just a long grind back to where we sit today.”
Macdonald declined to give specifics, but said it was a “serious injury,” and that the recovery timeline had been pushed back.
Fant started the season-opener in place of Lucas before suffering a knee injury. No timetable was given on his return. Third-string right tackle Stone Forsythe, out last week with a hand injury after starting five games, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and must miss at least the next four games. Rookie sixth-round Michael Jerrell appears in line to make his second NFL start.
Woolen practices, Metcalf not yet
Macdonald said DK Metcalf would not practice Wednesday and was unlikely to practice Thursday.
“We’ll see on Friday,” Macdonald said. “We’ll kind of re-evaluate as we go.”
Metcalf left Sunday’s win over Atlanta on a cart in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 medial collateral ligament strain on Monday.
Starting cornerback Riq Woolen was to return to practice Wednesday after missing Sunday’s game with an ankle sprain. Backup corner Tre Brown remained out.
Other roster changes
On a busy day for the team, Seattle claimed linebacker John Ross off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. Mostly a special teams player in the NFL thus far, Ross played for Macdonald at the University of Michigan and in Baltimore the prior two seasons.
The Seahawks signed cornerback Damarion Williams to their practice squad on Wednesday, a day after releasing cornerback Eric Garror.
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