Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has been in charge in Green Bay for five seasons, and there may not have been a more dependable or reliable player than running back Aaron Jones during that time. Jones, a seven-year NFL veteran who has spent his entire career in Green Bay, has been a vital component of the Packers offensive approach during LaFleur’s tenure, and supporters expected Jones to return when free agency opened. Matt LaFleur had the same anticipation right up until the last minute.
Instead, the Packers unexpectedly signed former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs to a four-year contract just before free agency opened, and then released Jones, who leaves as the franchise’s third-leading rusher and has signed a one-year contract with NFC North division foe the Minnesota Vikings. Several weeks later, at the NFC coaches breakfast at the annual NFL Meetings, LaFleur addressed Jones’ release, noting that he, like most others, was startled by the decision.
“It kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you,” LaFleur told Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “(Losing Jones) is incredibly difficult. Not just the footballer, but the man. He walks the walk and does everything. “He’s just such a pro, and that’s always difficult to replace.” LaFleur went on to say that he wasn’t necessarily involved in the decision to effectively exchange Jones for Jacobs, but added that “we were super excited (to get Jacobs).”
Hello, Aaron Jones. Hello, Joshua Jacobs.
Only Ahman Green and Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Taylor have ran for more yards in a Packers uniform than Aaron Jones did over his seven-year tenure. Surely Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and all of the Packers supporters are hopeful that one of the team’s newest recruits will join that list.
Josh Jacobs is 26 years old, more than three years younger than Jones, so it makes sense for the Packers to bring him in. Since being taken in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Jacobs has run for 5,545 yards in five seasons with the Raiders, surpassing the 1,000 yard mark three times, including a league-high 1,653 yards in 2022. According to Stat Muse, only newly signed Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has more rushing yards than Jacobs since 2019. For example, Aaron Jones is ranked sixth on that list.
Aaron Jones has shown to be a significantly more reliable ball catcher out of the backfield than Jacobs, accumulating more receptions for more yards and scoring 17 receiving touchdowns to Jacobs’ zero. But Matt LaFleur believes Jacobs will be even more involved as a pass catcher than he was in Las Vegas.
“He is tough and hard-nosed. He has a tendency to speak loudly. After watching him, I believe he has greater potential in the passing game.”
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