Packers: Five players to watch vs. Bears in season opener
By Jesse Fry
2. Aaron Jones
Aaron Rodgers did not take one snap in the preseason. Despite being healthy all camp long, the Packers decided to keep their two-time MVP quarterback off the field in his first year in Matt LaFleur’s system. That could come back to haunt them. But if Rodgers comes out firing on all cylinders, the angst would be for naught.
One way to get Rodgers into a rhythm with his team keep the Bears off balance is to get the run game off to a good start. Coach LaFleur’s system relies heavily on the marriage of run and pass. Play-action passes off his preferred outside zone run can give the defense fits.
In order for that to happen though, the Bears have to actually respect the run. If Aaron Jones can get going, the pass rush will slow down and make Rodgers and the rest of the offensive line’s job easier.
Many are predicting Jones to have a monster year; I am one of them. When healthy, Jones has shown he can eat up large chunks of yardage every time he touches the ball. Interestingly, Jones has had his season end in Chicago the last two years. Knee injuries at Soldier Field have been his downfall. Jones would like to end that narrative and get the Packers offense and his breakout campaign off to a good start.