Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones wore a red non-contact uniform during practice this week, but coach Matt LaFleur sounds ready to (finally?) lean on his top playmaker on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
“He did a great job. We did that (red uniform) for his own protection, making sure that people wouldn’t knock him over and anything like that,” LaFleur said Friday. “He looked good. Had a good week. Got a great attitude. Ready to cut him loose.”
Quarterbacks traditionally wear red practice uniforms to alert defenders not to hit them. Jones wore one this week out of an abundance of caution as the Packers navigate a soft tissue injury that lingered for weeks.
Jones, who originally injured his hamstring in Week 1, played a season-high 31 snaps (51 percent) last week against the Minnesota Vikings. He handled 11 touches.
How many snaps should be expected on Sunday? Last season, Jones played 60 percent or more of the offense’s snaps during nine of the Packers’ 17 games.
Jones hasn’t received more than 11 touches in any of his four appearances this season. In Week 1, Jones turned 11 touches into 128 total yards and two scores. Last week, Jones had a drop and a fumble and finished with only 46 total yards.
To get back on track, the Packers need Jones to get the ball more and power the offense, beginning Sunday against the Rams. An injury that should be getting further and further in the rear-view mirror might give LaFleur his best chance to feature Jones this week.