Amid his mixed emotions about returning to Green Bay, Aaron Jones envisions a touchdown celebration in the front-row seats at Lambeau Field, a place he knows well after seven seasons with the Packers.
This time, however, the big difference is that he will be doing the Lambeau Leap while wearing purple, a color that seems out of place in Green Bay. The Vikings (3-0) are set to face the Packers (2-1) on Sunday in a key early-season matchup.
“If you’re not thinking about the end zone, you’re thinking about the wrong thing,” Jones said. “I’m definitely going to leap.”
After signing with the Vikings following his release from the Packers, Jones has adapted to his new team in unexpected ways.
He has also maintained his strong performance on the field, accumulating 325 yards and two touchdowns in three games for Minnesota, following five consecutive games with over 100 rushing yards while with Green Bay. “I’ve been part of good teams, but this one feels special. I told my mom, ‘I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’m just happy to be around this group of great men,’” Jones shared.
Drafted in the fifth round from Texas-El Paso in 2017, Jones became the Packers’ main running back, achieving three 1,000-yard seasons.
He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2020, during which Green Bay lost to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship, and he became a beloved figure in the locker room and across the state.
The Packers surprised him by releasing him after he declined to accept a significant pay cut for the second consecutive year.
Despite this, he couldn’t hide his smile during a recent interview with reporters at the Vikings’ facility. If he feels any resentment or has scores to settle, he’s keeping it well concealed.
