The 2023 season marked success on multiple fronts for the Green Bay Packers. Of particular significance for the team’s trajectory was the confirmation that Jordan Love is more than capable of assuming the role of starting quarterback. Additionally, Green Bay exceeded its previous year’s record, secured a spot in the NFL Playoffs, and triumphed over the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round, marking their inaugural season without Aaron Rodgers.
A pleasant surprise for many was the emergence of the Packers’ youthful pass-catching corps as one of the deepest in the NFL. However, none of the Packers’ achievements this season came without adversity. They encountered numerous challenges and at times seemed on the brink of defeat before rallying.
One significant hurdle was the injury-plagued season of star running back Aaron Jones. Despite a strong performance in Week One, where he amassed over 100 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, Jones missed several subsequent games due to a hamstring injury.
Upon his return from the hamstring ailment, Jones struggled to regain his form. Subsequently, he endured further absences after spraining his MCL during the Packers’ victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The team’s string of losses during this period led to speculation about Jones’ future with the franchise.
Aaron Jones’ Historic Rushing Streak: Five Consecutive 100-Yard Games for the Packers
In Week 16, as the Packers aimed to secure a playoff berth, Jones made his return from his knee injury. Across the final three regular-season games, Jones amassed impressive rushing yardage totals of 111, 120, and 127 yards in victories against the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers, respectively.
In the subsequent postseason matchups, Jones continued his stellar performance, recording 108 rushing yards in the Packers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers and an impressive 118 yards, along with three touchdowns, against the Dallas Cowboys.
This remarkable feat marked the first instance in the Packers’ century-long history where a player achieved over 100 rushing yards in five consecutive games.
Aaron Jones’ Future with the Packers: Speculation Surrounding Contract Restructuring and Commitment to the Team
The Packers showcased an improved performance with Jones on the field, and his impressive streak of five consecutive 100-yard games underscored his ongoing significance to the team’s offense. The team’s success has fueled speculation that Jones may come back for the next season with a restructured contract aimed at reducing his hefty $17 million salary cap hit. In an interview with Larry McCarren available on the team website, Jones hinted at his return, stating “we” in reference to the upcoming season, a subtle indication of his intention.
“I feel like what we’re building here is special. You can feel it. You can see it. The chemistry, the bond, the standard that we’ve set. I feel like with the standard we’ve set, we know what our expectations are when we come back next year. Our standard is high. We have no reason not to reach that standard every day because we’ve shown that we can do it this year, and we’ve shown we can do it game after game after game, we can put it together. I feel like we’re gonna be dangerous. We’re gonna be special.”
The use of “we” strongly implies that Jones is planning to return for the upcoming season; otherwise, he would have used “they.” Jones reportedly agreed to forgo a $5 million salary increase to remain with the team this season, indicating his commitment to avoiding becoming a cap casualty in the future.
