Former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is staying in the NFC North, as he is set to sign a one-year, $7 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Jones was released by the Packers after they landed former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. The 29-year-old dealt with injuries last year and was limited to 656 rushing yards and 233 receiving yards to go along with three total touchdowns. However, he dominated in the playoffs, posting 39 carries for 226 yards (5.6 YPC) and three touchdowns in two games. He still has plenty of juice, and he should be set up to be the featured back with the Vikings. However, the offense could be headed for steep regression after losing franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Minnesota Vikings are now interested in running back Aaron Jones after the Green Bay Packers released him on Monday. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Packers wanted Jones to take a 50 percent pay cut, if not more, entering the final year of his deal in 2024. Jones signed a four-year, $48 million extension in March of 2021, and the 29-year-old took a $5 million pay cut last year. He missed some time with injuries in 2023, but when he was on the field, he ran for 584 yards (5.7 yards per carry) over the final five games of the team's season in the regular season and playoffs. The stretch included a three-touchdown game against the Cowboys in the wild-card round. The Vikings need both RB help and a new quarterback after releasing Alexander Mattison and watching Kirk Cousins sign with the Falcons on Monday, so Jones could be a nice fit in their backfield and would two revenge games against the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers are releasing running back Aaron Jones after signing free agent running back Josh Jacobs to a contract on Monday. Jones had $12 million in non-guaranteed compensation for 2024, but with the Packers adding Jacobs to the roster, Green Bay decided to move on from the veteran back. Jones rushed for 656 yards and two touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 233 yards and a score over 11 games in 2023. The 29-year-old finished the season and playoffs strong, logging five consecutive 100-yard games and three touchdowns during that five-game span. After seven seasons with the Packers, Jones will be a free agent and look to latch onto a team in search of a starting back. Jones should be a free agent for only a short time, and after a strong finish last season, the former Packer should be a solid fantasy option in 2024, regardless of where he lands.
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is reportedly discussing a pay cut with the organization. Jones is heading into the final year of his four-year deal with the team. He's set to make a base salary of $11.1 million with a cap hit of $17.5 million in 2024. Jones missed six games last season, but still put together solid numbers when he was healthy. The 29-year-old finished with 656 rushing yards on 142 attempts with two touchdowns in 11 games. Fellow back AJ Dillon is set to become a free agent this offseason. That being said, Jones appears to be in line to be the workhorse back next season.
Packers "Absolutely" Expect Aaron Jones Back In 2024
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he "absolutely" expects running back Aaron Jones to be back with the team next season. Jones is heading into the final year of the four-year, $48 million deal he signed in 2021. He injured his hamstring in Week 1 of the regular season and ended up missing a total of six games due to injuries. The 29-year-old was an extremely frustrating fantasy play for the majority of the season while also sharing touches with AJ Dillon, but he broke out late in the regular season and into the playoffs with five straight 100-yard games and three rushing scores to make fantasy managers happy they stuck with him. In total, Jones averaged a decent 4.6 yards per carry for 656 rushing yards (his fewest since his rookie year in 2017) and only two rushing TDs for the second straight season. His contributions in the passing game (30 catches for 233 yards) raise his fantasy ceiling. If Jones can stay healthy in 2024, he'll have a good shot at returning to the 1,000-yard mark in an improving Packers offense.
Aaron Jones Finishes Season With Fifth-Straight 100-Yard Performance
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones took 18 carries for 108 yards and caught three of six targets for a gain of eight yards during the team's 21-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The 29-year-old eclipsed 100 yards for the fifth-straight week and ended the year on a high note, being the first back to gain 100 yards on the 49ers since October of 2021. Jones had a rough fantasy season overall due to injury, but the veteran showed why he is one of the essential pieces of the Packers offense over the final five games of the team's season, gaining 584 yards on 102 carries, scoring three touchdowns, and averaged 5.7 yards per carry. Fantasy managers were hoping that AJ Dillon (neck, thumb) would be the clear incumbent to Jones when he was drafted, but he has not been impressive and is likely nothing more than a rotational back moving forward. Jones has a massive cap hit next season but will likely return to the Packers as their clear lead back.
Aaron Jones Looking For Fifth Straight 100-Yard Game
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones will go on the road to take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday. The 29-year-old opened the week as a limited practice participant due to finger and knee injuries but was left off of the final injury report. Jones has been on a roll the past month, rushing for over 100 yards in the past four games. AJ Dillon (neck, thumb) has been out of action since the regular season finale, but his potential return this week should not bring down Jones' value in DFS. The Packers will need to continue to feed him the rock to have a chance at keeping the stellar San Francisco offense off the field Saturday, so expect another 20-plus touch game from the veteran. Jones is a great DFS option this weekend.
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (finger, knee) remained limited in the team's practice on Wednesday. Jones has been limited in practices for a while as he plays through some nagging injuries, but they haven't slowed him down at all. In fact, not only did he score three touchdowns in the surprising wild-card win over the Dallas Cowboys, but he reached the 100-yard rushing mark for the fourth straight game as well. It's the primary reason why he's the second-most expensive back on DraftKings, behind only Christian McCaffrey, for the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Jones should still see plenty of touches for the Packers offense, especially if AJ Dillon (neck, thumb) misses a third straight game, but it's going to be tough for him to live up to his $6,700 price tag against one of the best defenses in the league on the road.
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (finger, knee) continues to manage some injuries heading into the Divisional Round this weekend and was listed as limited on the team's estimated practice report on Tuesday. Jones has been managing injuries pretty much all year, but he's been at his best at the right time and is coming off a 118-yard performance and three touchdowns on 21 carries in blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys on wild-card weekend. He's now rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games. As the second-most expensive RB on DraftKings for the Divisional Round on the road in San Francisco against the 49ers this Saturday, Jones will face a huge challenge against a vaunted Niners defense as he looks to go for his fifth straight 100-yard rushing performance.
Aaron Jones Runs All Over Cowboys, Scores Three Touchdowns
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones took 21 carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns and caught his lone target for a 13-yard gain during the team's 48-32 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The 29-year-old's reputation as a "Cowboy killer" grew even more Sunday, as he now has gained over 110 yards on the ground in four straight games. Jones actually started the game slow on the first drive, losing yardage on his first two carries. However, after this, the savvy vet went on to score the opening touchdown of the game and added two more before the third quarter even ended. Jones has given this offense a boost that it sorely needed since returning from his injury, and the team is likely to lean on him heavily again next week against San Francisco.
