Stop worrying about Aaron Jones' practice reports (at least for now)

Aaron Jones has yet to log a full practice since injuring his hamstring in Week 1. While the situation will garner attention, it doesn't merit concern, at least not yet.

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If nothing else, the first five games of the Green Bay Packers' 2023 season demonstrated that Aaron Jones remains the fulcrum of everything they do offensively. The star running back can overcome many of the issues that have otherwise held back the ground game while also lifting the passing attack in key situations.

Jones made both of those points clear during his stellar Week 1 performance against the Chicago Bears. With Christian Watson sidelined and Romeo Doubs heavily limited due to injuries, head coach Matt LaFleur built the offensive game plan around Jones. The veteran back responded with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 11 touches in less than three quarters of action. Perhaps his finest moment came on his final play of the game when he beat his man on an angle route and took a quick strike from Jordan Love 35 yards to paydirt.

But as well as Jones performed in the opener, perhaps his absences over the ensuing four games better highlighted his importance to the Packers offense. On that touchdown reception in Chicago, Jones pulled his hamstring and did not return. He sat out the next two weeks and played just 35% of the snaps during a Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. Jones then missed Green Bay's final contest before the bye.

With Jones either unavailable or limited over the Packers' last three games, the offense deteriorated precipitously. During that stretch, the unit produced -0.128 expected points added per play, good for 26th in the NFL. When contrasted with Green Bay's EPA per play over the first two weeks -- 0.172 (2nd) -- the decline comes into full view.

Jones' injury doesn't account entirely for that regression as he sat out Week 2 and other key contributors have missed games as well, but those contests make plain his importance to the offense. Not only have the Packers struggled to create easy conversions in his absence, but the extra burden has weighed heavily on Love. The excellent poise he displayed early in the season has fractured as Jones' absence lengthened. In his last outing against the Las Vegas Raiders, the young signal-caller bailed on clean pockets and let pressure alter his throws and decisions, mistakes he had previously avoided.

Given Jones' impact on the Packers' fortunes, any news regarding his health will garner plenty of attention in Wisconsin. Accordingly, no shortage of people raised their eyebrows when the team listed him as "limited" during Wednesday's practice. Even after a week to rest, Jones remains less than 100%.

Earlier this week, Peter wrote about why the Packers' record coming out of the bye didn't warrant serious concern. Similarly, Jones' practice reports don't merit the panic, at least not yet.