‘Overlooked’ Aaron Jones Eager for Matchup Against Derrick Henry

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones wants to be the best. Sunday night, his team will be facing the game’s best in running back Derrick Henry with a lot on the line. A win over the Titans could help secure home field throughout the NFC playoffs for the Packers. It will also give an “overlooked” Jones a chance to go head-to-head with Henry.

Aaron Jones has blossomed into one of the NFL’s best

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Aaron Jones wasn’t high on the list of many when he came out of college in 2017. Jones, a 5-foot-9, 208-pound running back, played his college football at Texas El-Paso. He was a fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2017 NFL draft.

Jones scored four touchdowns in his rookie season and saw his workload increase in 2018. In his second season, Jones had 133 carries for 728 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2019, Jones was the clear-cut primary back and took advantage.

He racked up 1,084 rushing yards on 236 carries. Jones led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 16. He also proved to be a dual-threat out of the backfield as he caught 49 passes for 474 yards and added three more touchdowns. This year, Jones made his first Pro Bowl. He’s played 12 games and has 968 yards on the ground with eight scores. He also has caught a pair of touchdown passes.

Jones’ success might run him out of Green Bay

Aaron Jones has become a top running back in the NFL. That may be a problem for the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have already tied up a ton of money by locking up defensive tackle to a four-year deal worth $70 million. The Packers then made left tackle David Bakhtiari the highest-paid offensive lineman with a $103.5 million extension.

Running backs are much easier to find than quality left tackles and that’s likely the thinking of GM Brian Gutekunst. When Jones was injured earlier this season, backup Jamaal Williams filled in nicely. The Packers also used a second-round pick on running back A.J. Dillon this season.

According to ESPN, the salary cap is expected to decrease next year. The lowered number is a result of the lost revenue this season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Jones has been outstanding. He’s probably out-priced himself to remain with the Packers.

Aaron Jones excited to face Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry is arguably the best running back in the NFL. The bruising 6-foot-3, 247-pound back is a workhorse for the Tennessee Titans. Henry leads the league in rushing attempts (321), rushing yards (1,671), and yards per game (119.9). Henry also has 15 rushing touchdowns.

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is eager for the matchup of two top runners Sunday night. Jones feels like he’s been flying under the radar since he’s been in the league. “I’ve been overlooked my whole life,” Jones said, according to Sports Illustrated. “It’s just added motivation (to go against Henry) to get the job done with my team and make sure I can do everything that I can for my team so we can come out with the win.”

Jones has nothing but respect for Henry. “I think the world about Derrick Henry,” Jones said. “He’s a great back. He does a lot of great things for his team and he brings the overall value of the position up, so shoutout to Derrick Henry for helping all the backs out there. He’s a great player.” Jones is hoping to shed that ‘overlooked’ image Sunday.