Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is going to miss a third consecutive game with a knee injury on Monday night football against the New York Giants. He has only played in seven of the Packers’ 14 games this season. Jones has struggled to stay healthy this season and was dealing with a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
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General manager Brian Gutekunst will have a big decision to make about him in the offseason. In seven games this season, Jones has rushed for 245 yards on 66 carries and two touchdowns. He is averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Aaron Jones has also caught 19 passes for 169 yards receiving and one touchdown, along with averaging 8.9 yards per reception.
Should the Green Bay Packers decide to cut Jones at the end of the season because of his injuries this season?
The Green Bay Packers Should Cut Aaron Jones At the End of the Season and Start Over at the Running Back Position
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There are a few reasons why the Packers should cut Jones at the end of the season and not have him on the roster after 2023. The first reason is that Green Bay is going through a youth movement and Jones is 29 years old. Running backs don’t last long in the NFL and it is starting to show with his injuries. Green Bay also has five picks in the Top 85 in the 2024 NFL Draft.
They can use one or two of those selections on another running back and it would be a position of need for them. The Green Bay Packers would be able to get younger at that position and find someone who is able to stay on the football field.
According to Spotrac, the dead cap next season for Jones would be $12,348,000 and it would be totally worth it for them because he has not been available much this season for them. Along with Jones, there is a possibility that the Packers would not re-sign A.J. Dillon at the end of the season because he is a free agent.
The running back room for Green Bay is going to look a lot different in 2024. Jones being out for the third straight game should be an alarm for the franchise and it appears as if his best days are behind him. The Packers are the youngest team in the NFL and should continue to go with youth.
