Tennessee
Ernest Jones, ‘shocked’ by Rams trade, may be Tennessee Titans final piece in defense’s rebuild
Ernest Jones IV got off the Los Angeles Rams team plane on Saturday with no idea of what was about to happen.
“I’m just going to be completely honest: I was shocked. We got off the flight from Houston and then I got told that I would be traded,” Jones said Wednesday. “No bad blood. There wasn’t even any contract talks. We never even talked numbers. It was just ‘All right, y’all aren’t extending me, I’ll play this year out.’ I was under the impression I was going to finish this year in L.A. and then I’d move on. But you know, it happened earlier.”
What happened earlier was the Tennessee Titans traded a fifth-round pick in exchange for Jones and a sixth-round pick, adding depth to an inside linebacker room that sorely needed it. Just three days after being informed he’d be traded, Jones landed in Nashville — at 8:42 p.m., as he remembers it — and about 18 hours later he was practicing as a member of the Titans.
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In Jones, the Titans add a player who can stuff against the run and create havoc as a blitzer. His 145 tackles were the 11th-most in the NFL last season, and his 37 quarterback pressures were the most recorded by any inside linebacker. He joins a revamped room that also features former first-round pick Kenneth Murray Jr., who the Titans signed in March, and draft picks Cedric Gray and James Williams, as well as returning starter Jack Gibbens.
Murray’s starting job appears to be safe after the Jones acquisition. Gibbens’ job may not be.
“Ernest has to come in and earn the spot,” Titans general manager Ran Carthon said. “He hasn’t been here. It’s up for (Jones and Gibbens) to figure it out.”
Jones was a full participant in Titans practice Wednesday. He says he worked in all the individual drills and got a few reps in team activities, but that was his first exposure to the Titans’ system. He didn’t have a chance to study the team playbook before practice, and says the Titans are trying to “feed (him) in slow” as opposed to pushing him with too much too quickly. This approach tracks with the way the Titans handled safety Quandre Diggs’ acclimation process after signing him in early August, waiting a couple weeks before installing him in the starting lineup.
Jones didn’t practice much for the Rams this offseason, but he says that had less to do with any pain or discomfort he’s feeling due to a lingering knee issue and more to do with the Rams managing his health. “When they told me not to practice,” Jones said, “I didn’t practice. That was that.”
MORE TRADE THOUGHTS: What Malik Willis trade means for Tennessee Titans and quarterback picture
Now the priority for the Titans is getting Jones, and the linebacker room at-large, ready for Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Gray is heading to injured reserve with a designation to return because of a recurring nerve injury that’s limited him in camp. Garret Wallow and Chance Campbell, the Titans’ No. 2 options at the start of training camp, are both on season-ending injured reserve. Backups Luke Gifford and Otis Reese IV are both recovering from time spent in the concussion protocol.
Jones is both the last piece in an offseason-long rebuild of the Titans defense that’s also included adding Diggs, Murray, cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie and defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day and T’Vondre Sweat as potential starters and an added question mark for a defense trying to figure out what it’ll look like when the season begins on Sept. 8.
None of this was in the plans for Jones, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t in good spirits.
“If you look from top to bottom, there’s some really good ballplayers on that side of the football,” Jones said. “I’m really excited about what we can do when we go out there and put it all on tape. That gets me excited coming into this building.”
ESTES: Tennessee Titans winning Super Bowl? It’s as likely as AJ Swann winning Heisman
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
The Tennessee Volunteers have the chance to make some big-time moves in the month of December, as they are looking to make a decision that can impact the future of the defense in a positive way.
Former Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks, that Monday as the DC for the Vols, but he would close the day off the staff. This is due to a decision that was made by Josh Heupel and others to part ways with the long-term DC for the Vols. Fans were calling for this decision on both social media and in real life, as fans even went as far as painting the rock and putting “Fire Tim Banks” on it.
After this was made official, fans started to speculate on what’s next for the Vols with the defensive coordinator opening. They started naming options and timelines, but since then more information has been revealed by a reliable source. Here is what was said.
Chris Low Confirms Some Details
“Would expect this one to be done pretty quickly. Vols made Banks one of the highest-paid DCs a year ago and will be willing to pay big money again,” said Chris Low.
This is good news as fans are hopeful that the Vols will go for a quality-based choice and try their hardest to land a top defensive coordinator in college football. There have been multiple names that have been thrown around, and some are among the best in the nation. Others may have to prove a bit to the fanbase. All of the names that have been released as possible options seem to be additions outside the current staff, except for one coach who could also be promoted.
That coach is William Inge, who has been named as the interim defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers for their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The other question has been, “Will Josh Heupel make an addition with someone he has had ties to?”
If that’s the case, then there is a chance that the Vols shoot their shot with Ryan Walters. Walters is the current defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies and has been improving with that program. He is a former staff member who was on the opposite side of the football coaching staff from Josh Heupel. Heupel was the offensive coordinator while Walters served as a co-defensive coordinator.
Make sure to stay tuned with Vols on SI.
More Vols News
Whataburger has announced plans to close four of its 24 Middle Tennessee restaurants less than four years after returning to the region.
Restaurants that are closing Dec. 15 are:
- Mt. Juliet: 11190 Lebanon Road
- Murfreesboro: 1924 Memorial Boulevard
- Clarksville: 791 North 2nd Street
- Clarksville: 1602 Haynes Street
“We regularly conduct a business review of our locations to maximize opportunities for growth and keep Whataburger strong in the communities we serve. In a few cases that means closing restaurants,” according to a company statement.
The decision to close the four restaurants “helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact,” the company stated.
The Mt. Juliet restaurant opened on July 9, 2024 at the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and North Mt. Juliet Road.
Whataburger also has a restaurant on Rutland Drive in Mt. Juliet and two restaurants in neighboring Lebanon in Wilson County.
Lineberry Properties is the property landlord for the Mt. Juliet restaurant that will close.
The lease is for 15 years. Mark Lineberry of Lineberry Properties expects Whataburger’s broker to sublease the property.
Whataburger plans to continue opening new restaurants in the Nashville area that includes a location off Gallatin Avenue in Nashville in the coming months.
Whataburger returned to the Nashville area for the first time since the 1970s with a restaurant in Hermitage in January 2022.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com.
Tennessee
Time Wellness Centers Announces Expansion of Mental Health Treatment Services in Tennessee
Chattanooga, TN, United States, 8th Dec 2025 – Time Wellness Centers has announced the expansion of its statewide program for Mental Health Treatment Tennessee, designed to address the increasing demand for licensed, structured mental health care. As outlined by Time Wellness Centers, the initiative expands inpatient and residential treatment capacity across Tennessee, aligning with efforts to provide standardized, clinically supervised mental health services.
The expanded framework consists of integrated, person-centered care that addresses a range of conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, and co-occurring substance use disorders. The model integrates clinical therapy, psychiatric oversight, and continuous care within a structured treatment environment designed to support long-term mental health stabilization, as per the Tennessee mental health facilities’ media contact person.
According to Jessica Gerstein, Executive Director of Time Wellness Centers, “access to appropriate care can significantly influence outcomes for individuals facing mental health challenges. Our goal is to guarantee that people in Tennessee have access to high-quality, regulated care in structured, encouraging environments.”
Data from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services indicate that more than one in five adults in the state experience a mental health condition annually, reflecting a steady rise in the demand for regulated inpatient mental health facilities in Tennessee.
Time Wellness Centers’ Residential Mental Health Facilities Tennessee approach incorporates step-down and aftercare planning to support ongoing rehabilitation upon release, going beyond short-term stability. According to the information provided by Gerstein, each treatment plan is created in collaboration with certified therapists, psychiatrists, and support personnel to guarantee that each participant receives customized, data-driven therapy.
“Our approach combines an established therapeutic community with clinical expertise,” stated Clinical Director, Erricka Hill. “It’s about giving clients both structure and compassion, enabling them to overcome the difficulties that frequently accompany mental health recovery while keeping an eye on clinical advancement and long-term wellness.”
According to Time Wellness Centers, the expansion involves developing partnerships with local healthcare providers and referral networks to promote coordination and continuity in patient care.
Allie Hinchman, Director of Business Development, stated, “Collaboration remains at the heart of our approach as we continue to develop programs across Tennessee. We’re assisting in bridging the gap between crisis intervention and sustainable recovery by closely collaborating with referring professionals, hospitals, and community organizations.”
Time Wellness Centers reports that its licensed facilities employ credentialed professionals who deliver a range of clinical and supportive services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and medication management.
About Time Wellness Centers
Time Wellness Centers is a licensed organization offering clinically supervised inpatient and residential care for adults across Tennessee. The organization’s interdisciplinary teams help persons with mental health and co-occurring disorders by providing clinically supervised care in controlled settings. To guarantee uniform, controlled treatment delivery, Time Wellness Centers complies with recognized clinical norms and state licensing requirements.
Media Contact
Organization: Time Wellness
Contact Person: Tori Skene
Website: https://timewellnesscenters.com
Email: information@twchcm.com
Contact Number: +14234136195
Address:1635 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States
City: Chattanooga
State: TN
Country:United States
Release id:38703
View source version on King Newswire:
Time Wellness Centers Announces Expansion of Mental Health Treatment Services in Tennessee
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