When the Green Bay Packers face the Detroit Lions on Thursday night, it appears they’ll welcome back one of their best players, with running back Aaron Jones expected to return from a hamstring injury.
“We’ll have 33 back,” second-year wide receiver Romeo Doubs told reporters on Tuesday, referencing Jones’ jersey number.
A 2020 Pro Bowl selection, Jones hasn’t played since the Packers’ Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears, which he left after suffering a hamstring strain. The injury caused the UTEP product to miss a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and a Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints, but it appears he’ll be good to go for this week’s pivotal NFC North matchup on Thursday Night Football.
In addition to Jones, the Packers are also expected to welcome back wide receiver Christian Watson, who has missed Green Bay’s first three games of the 2023 campaign with his hamstring injury. Asked on Tuesday if he would make his season debut against the Lions this week, Watson told reporters, “that’s the plan,” according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
The returns of Jones and Watson should provide a boost to a Packers offense that has already looked promising in Jordan Love’s first season as Green Bay’s starting quarterback. With the Packers and the Lions claiming 2-1 records, this Thursday night’s matchup could significantly shape a more competitive than expected NFC North division title race.
A fifth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, Jones has been one of Green Bay’s most reliable weapons, rushing for at least 1,000 yards in three of the previous four seasons. Watson, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong rookie campaign in 2022, with the second-round pick out of North Dakota State catching 41 passes for 611 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games last season.
