Oct 22, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) carries the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
In his Friday presser, Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur is cautiously optimistic that RB Aaron Jones would be able to suit up in Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones missed three games this season with a hamstring injury, and last week, in his first game back after the bye week, he only carried the ball eight times for 35 yards. In the past, Green Bay has been known to be extra careful bringing players back from injuries that could linger, so it sounds like if Jones suits up on Sunday, he will be on a snap count.
What Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur said about Aaron Jones’ status for Sunday’s game.
Oct 22, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Despite the hamstring injury, Packers RB Aaron Jones carries no injury designation heading into Sunday’s matchup against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. Still, Head Coach Matt LaFleur was cagey in Friday’s presser about whether Jones will suit up.
Matt LaFleur on Aaron Jones, who has no injury designation for Sunday’s game: “We’re still gonna be smart with him. I don’t think he’s 100% by any stretch.”
“We’re still going to be smart with him. I don’t think he’s 100 percent by any stretch.”
This is code for don’t expect Aaron Jones to have a featured role in the offense on Sunday. This is a vital game for Green Bay to get off the schneid and win their first game in over a month. Rushing Aaron Jones back would prove costly for Green Bay because he’s the most dynamic player the team has offensively, and his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield has been a missing element for Jordan Love and the offense.
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones on if he will play on Sunday
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) runs for a short gain during the third quarter of their game Thursday, September 28, 2023 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers 34-20.
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones seems aligned with his head coach on his playing status for Sunday.
Aaron Jones, who’s playing Sunday: “If I don’t get to 100 (percent) by Sunday, I’ll probably be there next Sunday. Just taking it day by day, continuing to work at it. It’s like someone applied some smiles on my face because I feel like I’m getting there.”
“If I don’t get to 100 percent by Sunday, I’ll probably be there next Sunday. Just taking it day by day, continuing to work at it. It’s like someone applied some smiles on my face because I feel like I’m getting there.”
Sep 28, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) and Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) talk after their football game on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Lions won the game, 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Sports
That doesn’t sound like a player who’s confident the injury has healed. More or less, it wouldn’t be the worst scenario if Jones missed another week because hamstring injuries are tricky, and those types of injuries can linger for a whole season, so Green Bay should proceed with caution and hold Aaron Jones out another week to see if his hamstring injury is 100 percent healed next week.
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Corey Moen is a writer for Wisconsin Sports Heroics. He is a 2021 graduate of UW-Whitewater with a degree in Electronic Media and a minor in Journalism.
Outside of Wisconsin Sports Heroics, he works at a news station as a Digital Content Producer.
