The Green Bay Packers have undergone significant changes in their backfield, marked by the recent agreement with former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. Concurrently, the team has decided to part ways with veteran running back Aaron Jones.
The decision to release Jones follows a breakdown in contract talks between him and the Packers. Jones, who was entering the final year of his 2024 contract, was set to receive $12 million for the season.
Expressing appreciation for Jones’ dedicated service, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst released a statement on the team’s website on Monday.
Gutekunst acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating, “We want to thank Aaron for his unwavering commitment to the Packers and the community over the past seven seasons. It is certainly one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make in my time with the Packers and not one taken lightly.”
He highlighted Jones’ significant impact on the field, in the locker room, and as one of the community’s most beloved players. Jones, a 29-year-old running back, spent his entire seven-season career with the Packers after being drafted by the club in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft from UTEP.
His versatility in the backfield earned him a Pro Bowl selection in 2020, and he co-led the league in rushing touchdowns with 16 in 2019.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed the challenges of parting ways with running back Aaron Jones, acknowledging his impact both as a player and an exemplary person in the community. LaFleur emphasized Jones’ instrumental role in establishing a winning culture and serving as a paragon of what it means to be a Packer.
Despite Jones facing injuries in 2023, he showcased remarkable productivity in the 11 games he played, particularly in the final five, rushing for over 100 yards in each, including two playoff appearances.
Over his seven-year tenure with the franchise, Jones exceeded 1,000 scrimmage yards four times and achieved three seasons with double-digit touchdowns.
His Packers career culminated with impressive rankings in team history, securing the third-most rushing yards (5,940), fourth in rushing touchdowns (45), and 19th in receptions (272).
As the Packers welcome running back Josh Jacobs, the status of A.J. Dillon, another free-agent running back, is uncertain. If Dillon also departs in 2024, it opens up opportunities for the 320 total carries from the previous season, with Jacobs likely poised to assume the majority of the workload.