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Aaron Jones was one of the most beloved players in Green Bay during his time with the Packers, as well as one of the most productive players in his position. He had a great 2022 season after establishing career-high numbers for yardage and he expected many more of that for 2023, as did the team.
But things went sideways last year. Of the team's schedule, he only played in 11 games and dealt with injuries throughout the year, something that did not let him settle his feet and he never really got going.
However, he managed to complete a stretch of games of at least 110 yards in five consecutive appearances, but things within the organization did not go as planned. He and front office had issues and with the addition of Josh Jacobs, he was unhappy with the situation and requested to be released, something that was granted and ultimately signed a new contract with NFC North rival, the Minnesota Vikings.
Fans took it bad, one particular player even more so
Packers quarterback Jordan Love saw in Aaron Jones a friend on and off field in his first season as a starter in Green Bay, ally in the backfield. To see him leave and sign with the Vikings, it was not easy,
"Yeah, it was very tough," Love said at Packers 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."
It looks like all this is part of a new era in Green Bay, but it is hard to believe that this is another situation where management does help a player out, like we have seen in the past with this team. Now Josh Jacobs is the leader of that backfield.
"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."
Alongside Jacobs, AJ Dillon and rookie MarShawn Lloyd make the Packers the running back group for the season.