Running Back Aaron Jones is a star player of the Green Bay Packers. This season Packers could not live up to their promise- the team gave high hopes to their fans that they would reach the Super Bowl and win. However, they were knocked out even before the tournament’s second round.
The Packers could have made it to the Wild Card Round if they had won their final game against the Lions. In Sunday night’s playoff-ending loss to the Detroit Lions, Jones’ fumble at the conclusion of the first half was one of the reasons the team lost the game by four points.
Yet the running back throughout the season was phenomenal, and his stats speak for his performance. Moreover, Jones is coming off one of his best seasons. His 1,121 rushing yards were a career record, and his 5.3 yards per carry increased from his 4.7 yards per run a year before. Add to that his 59 passes, also a personal best, and his total from scrimmage, 1,516 yards, nearly broke his personal best of 1518 yards.
Having a terrific season with “fumble-some-finale,” Aaron Jones is being retained by the team, and that too with a restructured contract of $20 million. It seems like the Packers are giving a late birthday gift to Jones since last month was his birthday.
After the decision to restructure the contract, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had an interview where he talked about the salary increase.
What did Brian Gutekunst say about Aaron Jones?
In the interview, Jones first hinted that they would “probably restructure everybody and try to keep making some room,” afterward he showed why Jones is crucial to the team, stating,
“Certainly, we expect to have him back. Obviously, he’s a dynamic player. It’s amazing. For a guy his size, to bring it every day, he rarely misses a practice, rarely misses a rep. The way he leads that football team, his consistency is amazing.”
“In this league, you can’t have just one. Obviously, having AJ (Dillon), it’s nice to have that one-two punch but Aaron just kind of … when we got first here, you’re thinking, ‘Hey, this probably won’t last long because the way he’s built and his size,’ and he just keeps on defying the odds,” Brain added.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst on Aaron Jones: “Certainly, we expect to have him back.” https://t.co/apD4ivjHsM
— The Packers Wire (@ThePackersWire) January 14, 2023
Align with the words of Gutekunst AJ after his fumble in the final game said to the media, “I control what I can control. I’d love to be here, so hopefully they feel the same way about me.”
The Green Bay Packers sure do love Jones and everything about him. The only question remains, Can he keep his word and take his team to the Super Bowl next season? Only time will tell. Till then stay tuned.
