The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for the upcoming 2023 season after a successful run last year that saw them make it to the playoffs and come close to reaching the NFC Championship.
With Jordan Love showing progress as expected, the Packers are confident in their ability to continue winning.
This has led them to make several moves in the offseason, including bringing in standout safety Xavier McKinney and parting ways with longtime running back Aaron Jones to make room for Josh Jacobs.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur expressed surprise at the decision to release Jones, stating, “It kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you.”
While there were other factors at play, including discussions with Jones about his contract, the move happened quickly. Despite missing six games due to injury in 2023, Jones still managed to record 889 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. The Packers had hoped to negotiate a pay cut with the Pro Bowl back, who had been with the team for seven years, but Jones ultimately signed a one-year, $7 million deal with division rival Minnesota Vikings.
Jacobs, who is three years younger than Jones, signed a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers. Despite a decrease in production last season with 1,101 total yards and six rushing touchdowns, Jacobs is not far removed from leading the league in rushing and racking up over 2,000 all-purpose yards in a single season. The Packers are betting on Jacobs bouncing back this season, while they believe Jones’s best years may be behind him.
The upcoming matchups between the Packers and Vikings are sure to add some excitement to the division rivalry, with Jones facing his former team in a new uniform. Only time will tell if the Packers’ decision to move on from Jones in favor of Jacobs will pay off in the upcoming season.
