The Green Bay Packers’ 2023 season can be classified as a resounding success on several fronts. Most notably, it provided crucial insights for the franchise’s future, confirming that Jordan Love has the potential to be their next franchise quarterback.
Moreover, in their inaugural season without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers not only improved upon their previous season’s record but also clinched a playoff spot, ultimately pulling off a remarkable upset against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.
One of the unexpected highlights of the season was the emergence of the Packers’ young pass-catching unit, which solidified its status as one of the NFL’s deepest groups. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that none of the Packers’ achievements came without adversity. They had to overcome numerous obstacles and, at times, struggled significantly before finding their rhythm.
One of the most significant challenges they faced was the injury-riddled season of star running back Aaron Jones. Despite a stellar performance in Week 1, where he amassed over 100 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns, Jones had to sit out several games due to a strained hamstring.
Even when he made his return from the hamstring injury, Jones didn’t appear to be his usual self. Subsequently, he suffered an MCL sprain during the Packers’ victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, causing him to miss additional games. The extended absence prompted questions about Jones’ future with the team.
Aaron Jones didn’t make his comeback until Week 16, when the Packers needed to win their final three regular-season games to secure a playoff berth. Remarkably, they achieved this feat, with Aaron Jones delivering impressive performances, posting 127, 120, and 111 rushing yards against the Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears, respectively.
In the playoffs, Jones continued to shine, accumulating 118 yards on the ground, along with three touchdowns, against the Dallas Cowboys. He followed that up with a 108-yard rushing performance in the Packers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
What made Jones’ achievement even more remarkable was that it marked the first time in the Packers’ century-long history that any player had managed to rush for 100 or more yards in five consecutive games.
Clearly, Jones remained a vital cog in the Packers’ offensive machinery, with the team performing at a higher level when he was on the field. This impressive success has convinced many that he will return for the next season, likely under a reworked contract aimed at lowering his substantial $17 million salary cap hit.
Jones himself seems inclined towards a return, as suggested by his comments in an interview with Larry McCarren on the Packers’ website.
“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.”
His use of “we” when discussing his future indicates a strong desire to remain with the team. Had he harbored other intentions, he might have used “they” instead.
It’s worth noting that Jones willingly accepted a $5 million pay cut to stay with the team for the current season, underscoring his commitment to avoiding becoming a cap casualty once again.
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