The Packers were shorthanded in the backfield to close out their Week 11 win, and they appear to be on track to not have Aaron Jones in the fold in the immediate future. Green Bay’s lead back is dealing with an MCL sprain, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Jones is considered week-to-week as a result of the injury he picked up during Sunday’s win over the Chargers. While nothing has been completely ruled out at this point, the news makes is highly unlikely Jones will be available for the Packers’ upcoming Thanksgiving game against the Lions. In the wake of third-string back Emanuel Wilson going down in Week 11 as well, Green Bay has added a couple of depth RB options.
The Packers brought back Patrick Taylor by signing him off the Patriots’ practice squad yesterday. They also added James Robinson to the taxi squad once again, giving them a pair of familiar faces in time for Thursday’s game in the event Jones is unable to suit up. If that turns out to be the case, the latter will have missed four games this season, after a hamstring ailment cost him a trio of contests earlier in the year.
Jones has had a down year so far, averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. The 28-year-old has received double-digit carries only twice this season and eclipsed 70 rushing yards once. Those struggles – which of course can be explained to a degree by Green Bay’s injury woes along the offensive line – have contributed to the Packers’ poor overall showing on the ground. The team currently sits 21st in the NFL with an average of 102 rushing yards per game.
Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic) he does not think Jones will require a stint on injured reserve. Being placed on IR would require an absence of at least four weeks, so avoiding such a scenario would leave the door open to a return in the near future. Still, missing Jones for any length of time will deal a blow to the Packers’ Jordan Love-led offense, a unit which has struggled to find consistent production in 2023.
Presuming Jones misses at least Green Bay’s Week 12 matchup, AJ Dillon will serve as the team’s lead back against the Lions. The latter has also been less efficient than normal this season, but he will be counted on to shoulder an increased workload in at least the short term.