It seemed like we were watching the end of the line for running back Aaron Jones in Green Bay for a large portion of the previous season as he battled a hamstring ailment that caused him to miss six games for the team. However, a late-season surge seems to have solidified Jones’ spot on the squad; however, it looks as though the Packers will say goodbye to their beloved No. 2 running back, A.J. Dillon.
The Packers may choose to go a really unusual path in replacing him by signing a player who has experienced far more injuries over the years than Jones.
That would be J.K. Dobbins, a free agency running back for the Ravens who is recovering from an Achilles tendon tear sustained in the 2023 season opener.
Following his selection in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Dobbins has missed 82% of his games since his rookie season.
Between 2021 and 2023, the Ravens participated in 51 games, although Dobbins only made nine appearances. Over his career, he has missed 64% of the games.
However, he plans to make a resurgence this year. And the argument put forth by Bleacher Report is that he ought to return for the Packers.
J.K. Dobbins Could Make a Pro Bowl
That does make some sense.
Dobbins is gifted. Issue is, even though he doesn’t play much. In 2021, he tore his ACL, missing the full season. He was lost to injury at the start of the season the previous year.
Despite logging 234 NFL runs at an amazing average of 5.8 yards per carry, Dobbins does not play enough to convert those stats into significant output.
In an article titled “New Landing Spot Predictions for 2024 NFL Free-Agent RBs After Franchise-Tag Deadline,” Alex Kay of B/R expresses the following opinion:
While healthy, J.K. Dobbins has shown Pro Bowl potential; however, injuries have plagued his career.
Dobbins has only made 24 games in the NFL since being selected in the second round of the 2020 draft; he missed the whole 2021 season and appeared in only one game in 2023. Dobbins is expected to make slightly more than $2 million in his next contract, so a team willing to take a chance on his health will probably have to offer him a “prove it” type of deal.
The Green Bay Packers may be the team where Dobbins can turn things around and support Aaron Jones.
Given how many rehab assignments he has had recently, “rehabilitate” may not be the term that Dobbins would prefer to see in this context, but it makes a valid point: Dobbins needs a fresh start, which the Packers can give him at a reasonable price. Late-Season Success for the Packers Was Led by Aaron Jones
Naturally, Jones had a fantastic year-ending performance in 2023, averaging 116.8 yards per game in the final five games, which included both of the Packers’ playoff games. By doing this, he probably revived what seemed to be a disintegrating tenure in Green Bay.
Although they will probably select at least one running back in the draft, the Packers now want him back for 2024.
Dobbins would be a nice compliment, and with the two frequently injured backs, there might be a minimum of one healthy RB1 available each week. Any attempts to bring in free agents could be derailed by the team’s desire for Jones to renegotiate his deal.
However, Jones was partially atoned for last year.
Perhaps Dobbins is overdue as well, and perhaps Jones can spur him on.
Regarding his ailments, Jones stated at the end of the previous year, “I feel like you have to go through some struggle before the storm passes and not that everything is great—hard times, the test will come before the good things happen, I feel like.
” That is essentially what has occurred. I feel like it’s made myself and our team who we are, and I wouldn’t exchange that for anything. truly made everyone better.
