A star running back for the Green Bay Packers, hasn’t been available since mid-November.
To be honest, they haven’t had Jones for the majority of the season. During a lengthy touchdown catch-and-run in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, he strained his hamstring, missing several games as a result. Then, on November 19 against the Los Angeles Chargers, a few weeks later, he sustained an MCL injury.
The following three games were played by the Packers without him. While they did go 2-1 during that time, their one loss came against the New York Giants on “Monday Night Football,” which was disheartening.
Looking to bounce back from that loss and perhaps make a playoff push, the Packers did receive some good news from Jones, though. Recently talking to the media, he suggested that he very well could play this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I’m feeling a lot better. I got to move around today at practice. Making great strides, so I’m going to take it day by day but I feel I’m confident for Sunday,” Jones said on Thursday, via beat writer Wes Hodiewicz.
If this is indeed the case, it couldn’t come at a better time for this young Packers team.
Not only do they need to bounce back from the disappointing loss to the Giants, but they’re extremely thin at running back. AJ Dillon, who has been starting in place of Jones, broke his thumb against the New York Giants and is questionable to play against the Bucs.
Third-string running back Patrick Taylor only has 53 career carries and his backup, nine-year NFL veteran Kenyan Drake, is an elevated practice squad player at this point of his career.
The Packers need Jones back and healthy in the worst way.
