Ernest Jones has indeed risen, from scary knee injury to full go for the biggest game yet this year.
“Amen,” the Seahawks’ middle linebacker and defensive signal-caller said with a wry grin Friday. “Amen.”
The centerpiece to coach Mike Macdonald’s defense is back full go after missing one game. Jones will start Sunday when the Seahawks (7-2) play his former Los Angeles Rams (7-2) in Inglewood, California, for first place in the NFC West (1:05 p.m., FOX television, channel 13 locally).
Rookie guard Grey Zabel and cornerback Josh Jobe, limited by injuries in practices earlier this week, were full go Friday and will start again at L.A.
Starting center Jalen Sundell and rookie wide receiver/punt returner Tory Horton are out. Sundell injured his knee last weekend in Seattle’s home win over Arizona. Horton injured his shin two games ago while catching two touchdown passes from quarterback Sam Darnold in the Seahawks’ blowout win at Washington Nov. 2.
Coach Mike Macdonald said the team is considering whether to put Sundell and/or Horton on injured reserve.
Olu Oluwatimi, the third-year veteran Sundell beat out to start this summer, will make his first start of the season Sunday at center.
With Horton out indefinitely, the team’s trade two weeks ago for wide receiver Rashid Shaheed from New Orleans to catch deep passes and return punts looks particularly prescient now.
This story will be updated.