Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones, who was diagnosed with a season-ending knee injury a few weeks ago, returned to practice on Thursday as the team began its on-field preparation for Monday night’s game against the New York Giants.
Jones missed the last two games, crucial wins over the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, due to a sprained MCL suffered against the Chargers. This is his first practice since his injury. He took his entire complement of individual reps while reporters were present, including handoffs, footwork drills, and pass protection.
“He was limited,” is all coach Matt LaFleur said when asked about Jones’ workload.
After surpassing 1,050 rushing yards in three of the last four seasons and 1,150 scrimmage yards in four consecutive seasons, hamstring and knee injuries have limited Jones to 245 rushing yards and 169 receiving yards in seven games this season.
Three starters did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
One wasn’t a surprise: receiver Christian Watson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the closing moments of the win against the Chiefs. It’s an unfortunate injury for a blossoming passing game, with Watson scoring a touchdown in three consecutive games and coming off performances of five receptions for 94 yards against Detroit and seven receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs.
“Hopefully,” LaFleur said, Watson will be back “sooner rather than later.”
After missing the first three games of the season with an injured right hamstring injury, Watson had played in each of the last nine until injuring the same hamstring against the Chiefs.
“I don’t think it’s as severe. That’s really all I know,” Watson said. “At this point, I’m trying to get back as quickly as I can, and I’m going to let them know exactly what I can do every day to try to push it as much as I can as fast as I can.”
Watson is trying to leave no stone unturned to put an end to the hamstring issues.
“I’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to figure out ways and talk to different doctors and do different things to try to figure it out,” he said. “I mean it’s just a full-body thing, so I really got to hammer in this offseason at making sure everything with my body is correct – from the back to the hips to the knees – to make sure that everything is working properly so there’s no stress anywhere else.”
Linebacker Quay Walker and safety Darnell Savage stayed inside the Don Hutson Center for the start of practice, as well, due to shoulder and chest injuries, respectively.
Walker had a game-high 13 tackles against the Chiefs, his fourth game of double-digits tackles this season.
In his return to the lineup after missing five games with a calf injury, Savage had four tackles and one pass defensed.
For what it’s worth, cornerback Jaire Alexander practiced. He’s missed the last four games with a shoulder injury, including Sunday night against the Chiefs, despite practicing as limited participation all week.
