When [Ernest Jones IV arrived](https://12thmanrising.com/mike-macdonald-confirms-all-seattle-seahawks-fans-knew-ernest-jones) from the Tennessee Titans in the middle of last season, he seemed to ignite the Seattle Seahawks’ defense. But you could argue that the change was already underway. At some point early in the season, it appears that head coach Mike Macdonald determined that he didn’t just need one new linebacker. He needed two.
So Macdonald made an extraordinarily uncommon move. He said goodbye to both of his opening day starting linebackers midway through the season. He didn’t simply bench Tyrel Dodson and Jerome Baker. He sent them packing. Baker was traded as part of the deal that brought Jones to town. And Dodson – the team’s leading tackler – was cut.
He made those moves because he felt certain that Jones [and Tyrice Knight](https://12thmanrising.com/seattle-seahawks-just-made-stance-tyrice-knight-crystal-clear), a 4th-round rookie draft pick out of UTEP, could better execute his defense. The results made it clear that the coach was correct.
Tyrice Knight returns from the wilderness against Arizona
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Heading into the 2025 season, Seattle’s defensive profile was very promising on paper. They had a quality, experienced defensive front to which they added the very good two-way edge DeMarcus Lawrence via free agency.
The back end looked very solid as well, with the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love returning and Nick Emmanwori joining through the '25 draft.
The second layer of defense – the linebackers – looked like a strength as well. Jones and Knight would come back with much greater experience in Macdonald's complex scheme. There was every reason to believe both would be even better than they were in 2024.
However, Knight went down with a knee injury in training camp. It didn’t seem especially serious, but it lingered. He had a second injury, which was never made public. The result was that throughout much of training camp and preseason, Knight was unable to perform.
That opened the door for Drake Thomas, another young linebacker who seemed well-suited to play Macdonald’s defense. Thomas began making plays all over the field, especially in pass coverage. Knight was healthy enough to start the season, and for a while, it appeared as if he and Thomas would share snaps opposite Jones.
But as the season progressed, Thomas continued making plays while Knight looked more tentative than he had in his rookie season. He wasn’t exactly playing badly, but it became obvious as the season reached its second month that the coaches were more comfortable with Thomas on the field.
When asked about his second-year player, Macdonald was consistently upbeat. Knight was just rounding back into shape. There was no loss of confidence. It was just a matter of time.
Of course, that’s the kind of response coaches typically offer in such situations. It does no one any good to run down one of your own players. Some fans began to wonder. Was Knight really in the Seahawks’ plans going forward?
Well, Ernest Jones IV couldn’t suit up against Arizona on Sunday, and so Tyrice Knight got his chance to start once again. And it didn’t take him very long to prove that he remains firmly fixed in Mike Macdonald’s plans.
Barely five minutes into the game, with Arizona facing a second and eleven from their own 43 yard line, Knight pulled off a perfect delayed blitz. He held back a beat, then followed the blitzing Emmanwori right through the center of the Cardinal line.
With the running back already engaged with Emmanwori and the rest of the line committed outside, Knight had a clear path to Arizona QB Jacoby Brissett. Knight hit Brissett before he could throw the ball away. It led to a fumble, which Lawrence scooped and ran into the end zone, extending the Seahawks' lead to 14-0.
Not a bad way to re-enter the starting lineup. So Knight decided he might as well do it all over again.
Well, it wasn’t the same thing. It was third and eleven instead of second and eleven. Arizona was on their own 41 and not their own 43. And it was early in the second quarter instead of early in the first.
This time, he didn’t delay and follow another blitzer. This time, he ran through the running back all by himself.
The rest of the play was exactly the same. Knight once again hit Brissett and caused a fumble. Lawrence was again there to pick it up and take it to the house. And Seattle extended its lead to 28-0.
For the day, Knight had eight tackles – second only to Emmanwori’s nine. He recorded three of the Seahawks’ ten tackles for loss. Thomas had two of his own, which means that, even without Jones, the Seahawks’ inside linebackers managed five tackles behind the line.
He was all over the field for a full sixty minutes. He played the run well and rushed the passer brilliantly. He didn’t look too bad dropping into coverage either, although no one on the Seahawks looked great when trying to keep up with Cardinal tight end Trey McBride.
Perhaps that is something for Macdonald and his coaches to focus on. It became clear on Sunday that they won’t have to worry too much about their linebackers. Sure, they need Jones back ASAP, but even if his return is delayed, Tyrice Knight reminded everyone on Sunday that Seattle has an awful lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball.