Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones received the game ball from coach Matt LaFleur after rushing for a season-high 127 yards during Sunday’s 33-30 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Jones produced five rushes of 10 or more yards, including three on the opening touchdown drive and a 39-yarder — his season long — setting up a second touchdown.
His 127 rushing yards represented his most since rushing for 138 during last season’s win over the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 13. Jones also became the first Packers player to hit 100 rushing or 100 receiving yards this season.
“This is the first time this year we’ve had a 100-yard rusher. 33 was on fire,” LaFleur said as he threw the game ball to Jones in the post-game locker room. “Give it up for Aaron Jones.”
Jones created 127 total yards — 41 rushing, 86 receiving — and two scores on just 11 touches in the opener, but a pair of lower-body injuries, first to his hamstring and more recently to his knee, submarined his season. Finally healthy and off the injury report, Jones erupted in Carolina, powering a Packers offense that scored 30 points for the first time since Week 1.
LaFleur also gave post-game shoutouts to practice squad elevations Benny Sapp III and Bo Melton. Sapp drew a holding penalty after running through a blocker on the opening kickoff, while Melton caught a career-high four passes and finished with 51 total yards.
“It’s always cool to call up a couple of guys from the p-squad and feel their presence,” LaFleur said.
Preston Smith, who had 1.5 sacks, also got a shoutout. So did Anders Carlson, who hit the game-winning field goal, and Romeo Doubs, who “showed out” during a 79-yard, one-touchdown performance.
“Far from a perfect game,” LaFleur said. “We found a way. It all counts the same. The thing we have to do is learn from it…understand what we still have in front of us. We have everything right in front of us. We have to handle our business.”
