The Running back practiced for the second day in a row on Friday, raising hopes that the Green Bay Packers’ explosive veteran may be able to return to the starting against the New York Giants on Monday night.
Jones, who missed three games earlier in the season due to a hamstring issue, has missed the last two games due to a knee injury suffered on Nov. 19 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“He’s getting better. That’s a positive,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
Jones said he took part in individual and group drills but not 11-on-11. Saturday’s practice, the final of the week, will be telling, he said.
“I’m feeling better,” he said. “Just being able to get back out there with my guys, just making that progress and, hopefully, I can come out tomorrow and get involved in some team, that’ll kind of be telling and helpful going forward.”
Three starters did not go out for the start of practice on Friday: linebacker Quay Walker (shoulder), receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) and left guard Elgton Jenkins (shoulder). Walker and Watson did not practice on Thursday, either, but Jenkins was limited. He spent the start of practice on Friday riding an exercise bike inside the Don Hutson Center.
LaFleur said the team was being “cautious” with his most-accomplished blocker.
Safety Darnell Savage, who missed five games with a calf injury but returned last week against the Chiefs, returned to practice after missing Thursday with a chest injury sustained early in that game.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed the last four games with a shoulder injury, practiced for a second consecutive day. He practiced all week last week, too, though.
Asked if the problem was pain or range of motion, Alexander said, “Really functionability. A little bit of all of that, honestly.”
Receiver Jayden Reed, who missed the first two practices last week but played against the Chiefs, practiced for a second consecutive day, as well, a sign he is getting healthy for the stretch run.
While Green Bay has won without Jones the last two games, getting him back would provide a lift to a surging offense.
Jones is second on the team with 245 rushing yards and seventh with 19 receptions, and his 51-yard catch against Chicago in Week 1 remains the team’s second-longest of the season. His missed-tackle rate of 9 percent is tied for 15th among backs, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Without Jones the last two games, the handoff breakdown has been 28 for AJ Dillon, five for Patrick Taylor and one for James Robinson, who no longer is on the team. Going back three weeks, when Jones suffered the injury, it’s 46 carries for Dillon, five for Taylor, five for Reed, four for Jones, three for Emanuel Wilson (injured reserve) and one for Robinson.
“Ben does a really good job of subbing in his backs,” coach Matt LaFleur said of running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “I kind of give him autonomy over that unless I absolutely want a certain individual, but he’s got a good feel for watching those guys and subbing in, whether it’s P.T. or we had Robinson last week. It’s a lot just monitoring that position and he does a good job with that.”
Other than the addition of tight end Daniel Bellinger due to illness, the Giants’ injury report was unchanged from Thursday.
Tight end Darren Waller remains on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and is targeting his return for next week.
Packers Friday Injury Report
DNP: LG Elgton Jenkins (shoulder), LB Quay Walker (shoulder), WR Christian Watson (hamstring).
