The Green Bay Packers picked up a huge win over the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday, and afterward, running back Aaron Jones spoke about what the victory meant to him.
“A team that I’d go to war with any day,” Jones said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. “There’s no quit in this locker room. You’re going to see them clawing tooth and nail until it’s over. It’s funny, because at the beginning of the season everybody tried to count us out. The middle of the season, everybody tried to count us out. So, I think that just speaks a lot about the guys in this locker room tuning out the noise and just getting the win.”
Jones had a terrific performance in the win, carrying the ball 20 times for 120 yards. It marked his second straight 100-yard outing, as he racked up 127 yards on 20 rushing attempts the week prior.
As a matter of fact, these last two games have represented Jones’ only two 100-yard showings of the season.
It has certainly been a rough year for Jones, who has been limited to just 10 games due to hamstring and knee injuries. During the time he has been on the field, he has rushed for 545 yards and a couple of touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He has also logged 25 catches for 203 yards and a score. It represents Jones’ least productive campaign since his rookie year.
The 29-year-old, who played his collegiate football at UTEP, was selected by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
After a couple of solid years to begin his career, Jones broke out in 2019, registering 1,084 yards and a league-leading 16 rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. He also hauled in 49 receptions for 474 yards and three scores.
The following year, Jones made the Pro Bowl after rattling off 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns, recording a robust 5.5 yards per tote. He added 47 catches for 355 yards and a couple of scores. He made the Pro Bowl for his efforts.
After taking a bit of a step back in 2021, Jones established a career high with 1,121 rushing yards last season, posting a hefty 5.2 yards per carry.
Green Bay improved to 8-7 with its victory over the Vikings and now holds the third and final Wild Card spot in the NFC. It can clinch a playoff berth when it hosts the Chicago Bears in its final game of the regular season next weekend.
