THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The life of an NFL football player isn't always easy. It's hard work, lots of practice and a grind day in and day out. 

And yet, for Los Angeles Rams rookies, like linebacker Earnest Jones, it's not the work that is top of mind this week. Instead, as the team gets set to kick off its 2021 season on Sunday Night Football, the word he's focused on is "excitement." 

"All the time," he said with a smile. "As the days get closer, that's what I think about most, like man, your dreams are really, finally coming true."

 At just 21 years old, this is all new for a player like Jones. 

Drafted in the third round of this year's NFL Draft, his first goal was to make the 53-man roster. Now, he's set on taking everything in for his first official NFL game day. 

"As a kid, growing up just wanting to play in Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football," Jones said. "And then just the opportunity to play in a Super Bowl."

The team boasts one of the youngest rosters in the league, with an average age of about 26 years old. 

During that time in a player's career, the start to the season is still fresh and new for many. 

Although it is a young team, it's also one that boasts a player who Jones would describe as just a little wiser. 

"Oh man, [Andrew] Whitworth is a great guy," he said. "Each thing he gives me I will hold on to it for life, especially if I can play 16 years."

Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth is a player like Jones, who still carries the same excitement for the game but is a little older. 

"I think we have one guy on the team where I'm like three or four years younger than his dad, so it's just one of those things that sort of hits home fast," Whitworth said. 

"It's an extremely young roster," he continued. "I look at it as some of the guys on this team, I graduated high school the year they were born, so it's quite a difference."

At 39 years old, Whitworth is one of the oldest active players in the league. He's also one of the game's best linemen — a testament to his passion and hard work. 

"I think it's even more responsibility because of the fact that I'm 39 years old, it's my 16th season, and I've played a lot of football," he said. "I just try to stay in my lane and be of help for them where I can and wherever they need me."

Yet as the years have gone on, he hasn't let time phase him. Instead, his experience and his age serve as motivation. 

"The expectation when I walk out here is this guy probably doesn't do much, probably doesn't have to do much, and probably gets away with everything," Whitworth explained. 

"So, that means something to be the guy they can be like, 'Wow, this guy at his age can do that. Maybe I can do more than I think I can,'" he said.

That feeling is what it's been like for a young player like Jones to watch Whitworth on the field. 

"Oh man, it blows my mind that he goes home to a wife and kids and as far as me, I go home to no one, nothing at all," he said laughing. 

These two players are at very different stages of their lives and careers but still playing together on one team with one goal.

"It's great," Jones said. "It just shows you what the organization looks life from top down." 

"There's a passion in this locker room and within this organization that's just different than many places," Whitworth echoed.

A shared excitement will run through both players as they run out of the tunnel on Sunday night to take on the Chicago Bears. 

"It's gonna be really special and something none of us will ever take for granted again," Whitworth said. 

"It seems like it's going to be a pretty exciting week for the Rams," Jones said. "So I'm excited myself."

 After all, for Jones, this is a first. For Whitworth, a sixteenth.