It has been two years since Packers star running back Aaron Jones departed Green Bay in free agency, a move that was pretty much the decision of the Packers front office. Jones wanted to come back, but the team was able to go out and sign star Josh Jacobs to man the role. Jacobs has been solid in his two years with the Packers–even great at times–but there is no doubt that the team sometimes misses a little bit of infectious energy and joy that Jones consistently brought.
Jones, along with fellow running back AJ Dillon, were well ensconced not just with the Packers, but the Green Bay community in general. With his versatile running style and excellent skill as a receiver out of the backfield, Jones put out two seasons in which he topped 1,500 yards from scrimmage with the Packers, and four in which he topped 1,100 yards.
After signing with the Vikings, he topped 1,000 yards rushing last season, but has been supplanted as the RB1 by Jordan Mason this year. Jones has still been an effective RB2, though, with 256 yards on 52 carries.
Aaron Jones ‘Excited’ for Return to Face Packers
On Sunday, Jones will be back at Lambeau Field for a showdown with the Packers. It won’t be his first return to Green Bay as a visiting player, as that came last October in a 31-29 Minnesota win in which he tallied 93 yards rushing and 46 yards receiving. But he said he is looking forward to a return nonetheless.
“Definitely excited to go back,” Jones said. “Last time I was there, I was welcomed with much love, and that’s always appreciated. Any time I get to go back , it feels like a full-circle moment, and take time to realize the path that I have been on, this journey and all that it has taken, and what more it’s gonna take.”
Packers’ Emanuel Wilson Hands Out Credit
Jones’ value as a leader for the Packers could, in fact, be on display on Sunday, even though he is two years removed from his final game with the team. That’s because backup running back Emanuel Wilson could get the RB1 job this week, with Jacobs dealing with a knee injury.
Wilson credited Jones with mentoring him after he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Jones recalled Wilson’s first preseason game with the Packers on Thursday.
“It was cool for me, because it was like I had spoken life into him,” Jones said, “and for him to go out and do it, I mean, I didn’t have anything to do with it. But just to instill confidence in the guys around me, especially him coming from a smaller school, any time I get a chance to have running backs around me in my room, I try to instill as much confidence as I can because it is a league where they will try to tear you down.”
Aaron Jones Saw Something Special
Wilson has played all 10 games for the Packers and has 220 yards on 53 carries this season. He also has 11 catches for 63 yards.
Jones said he is not surprised–he could tell early on that Wilson had a certain spark, despite having come out of little-known Fort Valley State.
“His work ethic. When he got his opportunities with the ball, he would always make the most of his opportunities, whether it was one carry, in a game, one carry in a practice, whatever it would be,” Jones said.
“He would make the most of it. You could tell he was very hungry, always trying to find ways to get better, coming to me and picking my brain. After every run, he is talking to me, ‘Hey, what did you see, what could I have done?’”
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