WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay on Monday said the team "never said" linebacker Ernest Jones IV requested a trade.
"We've had communication with his representation, and I'm gonna leave that in house for now," McVay said.
On Sunday, it was reported the team had granted Jones permission to seek a trade due to the current status of contract negotiations between Jones and the team. Rams general manager Les Snead at the NFL Annual Meeting in March said they anticipated Jones playing out the final year of his deal given the way the team allocated resources this spring toward external additions rather than internal re-signings, then revisiting those contract discussions at the end of the season.
McVay on Monday reiterated they've had discussions with Jones' reps, and that there has been "some dialogue" with other teams.
"These are parts of the profession, and they're not fun parts, but they are real parts that you have to acknowledge," McVay said. "Ernest is a pro in every sense of the word. And so we're just kind of dealing with it a day at a time."
Asked by a reporter if there's a timeline he'd like to have this resolved by, McVay said "there's a lot of discussions that are ongoing right now."
"I think there's always a little bit increased urgency around the league, not exclusive to just this situation, with just the possible movement that can occur here," McVay said. "And so I'm sure the next time that I talk to you, I'll have a little bit more clarity. But we are working through those things and there's changes by the minute potentially."
