Aaron Jones Has Plans for Sunday
He was on the other side of the border battle for years, but former Packers running back Aaron Jones switched sides in March. His former team released him to make room for 2022 rushing leader Josh Jacobs. Through three weeks, both the Vikings and the Packers can be happy about their starting running backs. Jones will return to his old living room in Week 4.
Aaron Jones Has Plans for Sunday
His old living room is Lambeau Field, one of the NFL’s historic sites. But it could also mean the endzone. He scored 37 times in Green Bay’s regular season home games and three more times in the postseason.
A touchdown on Sunday would be his third in a Vikings uniform, but the first against the Packers. He was asked whether he had thought about scoring at Lambeau in a different uniform:
“Of course, of course. If you’re not thinking about the endzone, then you’re thinking about the wrong thing. No, definitely, and I’m definitely leaping up there. It depends on which endzone I’m scoring, but either endzone is not too tall. It is kind of high up there, but I can still get up there. Hopefully, there’s a Vikings fan in one of them, so I can jump up to them. I think that will be a pretty cool shot, pretty cool side-by-side with two jerseys.”
A Viking performing the famous Lambeau Leap isn’t new. Just last year, Jones’ new teammate Jordan Addison made the jump after scoring his touchdown. In 2020, in an empty stadium, it was Dalvin Cook after one of his four touchdowns in one of his best games.
Jones, however, made clear that there isn’t any ill will towards Green Bay. He wrote a heartfelt letter at The Player’s Tribune:
“That’s the biggest thing I want to write here, not just to the Packers organization but really to all of Green Bay. Thank you. It’s going to feel strange being on that visiting sideline for the first time, and being on the other side of this NFC North thing in general — but it’s ALL love, and it’s so much gratitude. Thanks for ‘betting’ on me, riding with me, hashtagging for me, and everything else.”
The running back has been an outstanding addition for the Vikings and has changed the running attack for the better. His voice in the locker room has been helping the coaching staff set the culture and the high expectations they have for the team.
In his three games in purple, Jones rushed 42 times for 228 yards and a touchdown. His average of 5.4 yards per carry is way above average and a massive improvement from Minnesota’s runners last year. He added 12 catches for 97 yards and another touchdown while also providing important pass protection.
It was a point of emphasis for the Vikings to build a balanced offense rather than the pass-heavy unit from the last two seasons, with a fading Dalvin Cook and his backup and then starter Alexander Mattison as the main threats.
This year, it is the Aaron Jones Show, although it should be noted that Ty Chandler had a remarkable game in Week 2.
Jones, 29, has been well worth his one-year $7 million contract. It will be fun to watch how Packers fans welcome him and if he makes his promise true and attempts a Lambeau Leap for maybe a final time.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt