Running back Aaron Jones played a vital role in the Green Bay Packers' offense for seven seasons, and his presence will be missed both on and off the field.
Aaron Jones' departure from the Green Bay Packers has left a void in the team's locker room, according to quarterback Jordan Love.
Jones, who signed with the division rival Minnesota Vikings in the offseason, played a vital role in the Packers' offense over the past seven seasons. He was coming off a 2023 campaign in which he rushed for a career-high 1,193 yards.
But Jones also dealt with injuries last season, playing in only 11 games. He put together an impressive five-game stretch in which he rushed for at least 100 yards per game.
The Packers added two-time Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs in March, but Jones was already unhappy with his situation in Green Bay. He requested his release, which the team eventually granted.
Jones' departure leaves a hole in the Packers' offense, but it also creates a void in the locker room.
"Yeah, it was very tough," Love said at practice. "Aaron Jones is such a special player. Special guy in this locker room since I've been here. Everyone loved Aaron, and it was very tough. It was one of those things that you can't control."
Love hinted that Jones' absence will be felt on the field as well.
"He's a great player," Love said. "He's a guy that can make plays in the passing game, the running game, and he's a guy that can score touchdowns. So, he's definitely going to be missed."
After Jones' strong performance during Green Bay's upset victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks described Jones as the team's "fire starter."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm happy for him (Jones)," Wicks said in January. "One hundred yard games back to back, that's hard. He's just our fire starter, and we keep the flame going."
Jones finished the game with 118 rushing yards.
Although Love will no longer hand off to Jones, he did express excitement about the opportunity to work with Jacobs.
"Obviously, getting Josh here has been awesome," Love said. "Excited to see him on the field. He's an awesome player. He's been an awesome teammate so far. It's been good getting to know him, and I'm excited to see what he can do this year."
AJ Dillon and rookie MarShawn Lloyd will fill out the Packers' running back depth chart heading into the 2024 campaign.
While Jacobs is a talented running back in his own right, he will have big shoes to fill in Green Bay. Jones was a fan favorite and a key part of the Packers' offense for many years. His departure will be a difficult adjustment for the team, both on and off the field.
