Getty Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on October 17, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Packers defeated the Bears 24-14.
The Green Bay Packers could have to spend an extended period of time without one of their top playmakers on offense.
Packers star running back Aaron Jones was knocked out of Week 10’s win over the Seattle Seahawks after suffering a knee injury late in the third quarter. The 26-year-old had gotten twisted up with multiple defenders following a six-yard run, attempting to run to the sideline after the play but dropping to the turf in pain.
Jones ended up needing the help of the Packers’ medical staff to get off the field and into the team’s blue medical tent on the sideline. CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson later added during the TV broadcast that Jones came out of the tent with “tears in his eyes” and went to talk with some family members nearby in the stands.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the initial tests have given the Packers the impression that Jones has sprained his MCL. He will undergo an MRI to further determine the extent of his injury, presumably later on Sunday or early Monday.
The belief is it is a sprained MCL, based on initial tests, source said. He’ll undergo an MRI. https://t.co/A0GLBCGRTc
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 15, 2021
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Dillon Steps Up in Jones’ Absence
Jones had only rushed seven times against the Seahawks for a combined 25 yards before bowing out of the game, but he had also made four receptions for 61 yards, including a pair of big-time screen passes that he took for more than 20 yards each.
Without him, the Packers leaned even more heavily on 2020 second-round pick AJ Dillon out of their backfield. He had already taken twice as many carries as Jones prior to him exiting with an injury, but he soared in the lead-back role and finished with 21 carries for 66 yards and two touchdowns along with two receptions for 62 yards in the 17-0 win over the Seahawks.
The Packers are going to need Dillon to keep that same energy if Jones is forced to miss time. The only other running back on their active roster is second-year Patrick Taylor, who took his first two NFL regular-season carries on Sunday night. They also have former Jacksonville Jaguars backup Ryquell Armstead to consider promoting from their practice squad for additional depth.
Rashan Gary Also Suffers Gruesome Injury
Jones wasn’t the only significant injury to the Packers’ ranks on Sunday night. They also lost a pair of pass rushers — Whitney Mercilus and Rashan Gary — to injuries with Gary hurting his elbow in such a way that the CBS broadcast declined to replay the moment during the broadcast for being deemed “too gruesome.”
Gary had been attempting to make a play on the ball when he spun around on a pile-up and had a Seahawks player land on his forearm, bending his right arm back the wrong way. The impact left him down on the field in noticeable pain and led to him getting helped off the field before disappearing into the locker room for the remainder of the game.
Gary has been the team’s sacks leader through their 8-2 start, pushing his total to 5.5 sacks on the season after getting to Russell Wilson once in their Week 10 victory. Losing him would be a big blow to the Packers defense, especially with Mercilus also suffering an injury that is worth monitoring heading into next week. The former Houston Texans veteran exited in the third quarter with a biceps injury and ruled out before the fourth.