 |
|
Green
Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones kneels during player
introductions prior to an NFL football game against the
Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 14, in
Green Bay
.
|
GREEN BAY - With star wide receiver
Greg Jennings out for a few weeks with a sprained left knee, now
might be the time for the Green Bay Packers to rediscover James
Jones.
As part of what might be the deepest
and most talented group of wide receivers in the NFL, Jones has been
tough to spot at times this season. His overall numbers are OK —
26 catches for 479 yards with five touchdowns — but perhaps not
quite what he expected when he re-signed with Green Bay in the
offseason.
Jones acknowledged that he sometimes
finds himself fighting off frustration. But he knows the minute he
starts sulking, it will hurt his chances of making the most of any
offensive opportunities that do come his way.
"I've tried to stay
positive," Jones said. "The 10-catch game as a receiver in
our offense is very rare. You have to make the most of it. If you
get three or four in a game, you have to make the most of them. I
have the same mindset with Greg being down: If the ball comes my
way, make the most of my chances."
Jones has eight games with two
catches or fewer this season — including five games with a single
catch, and two games where he was shut out completely.
And while Jones is trying to keep his
head up, he doesn't necessarily expect anything to change
dramatically with Jennings on the sideline.
"Everybody thinks stuff changes
around here because somebody gets hurt," Jones said. "They
don't change. I'm going to still be James. If the ball comes my way
a little more, it does. Shoot, we've still got four wideouts plus
J-Mike (tight end Jermichael Finley). We've got to run it. So Greg
being out, you don't have to try to be Superman. Just keep doing
what you've been doing — if the ball comes your way, make a play.
And that's what I've been doing this year."
But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
pointed to Jones and rookie wide receiver Randall Cobb as players he
expects to help make up for Jennings' absence.
"We'll miss Greg," Rodgers
said. "Greg is a great player. This team last year taught us
anything, the next man up has got to step in and produce. We're
expecting (to see) James getting more opportunities and Randall to
step in and play well."
Rodgers said the Packers can rely on
their experience from last season, when they went on a Super Bowl
run despite a rash of injuries to key players.
"It's difficult when you lose a
Pro Bowl receiver like Greg and a guy who's got to be mentioned
among the top at his position," Rodgers said. "Last year,
we had a number of guys go down and we needed the next guy to step
up and play well. It helps when you have a guy like Jordy Nelson and
the kind of season he's had, Donald (Driver) with his experience,
James Jones, with him making the most of his opportunities, (and)
Randall Cobb, with the way that he approaches the game."
And Rodgers hopes to keep feeding
Finley.
"You still have one of the top
tight ends in the league, who I know is probably desperate for some
more balls going his way," Rodgers said. "I'm not worried
too much, but it hurts to lose a guy like that on the field and in
the locker room."
Finley said he expects to split out
wide more frequently in the wake of Jennings' injury. And while
Finley is happy that Jennings will be back for the playoffs, he's
looking to make the most of increased opportunities in the meantime.
"At the same time, I'm excited
about the chance to step up and be the playmaker," Finley said.
"We've got to step up."
Jennings is expected to miss two or
three weeks, making it likely that he'll be back for the playoffs.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers will be expected to keep
running the offense the way he has been.
"I don't think it's going to
change the way Aaron plays," McCarthy said. "We're very
fortunate we have a number of perimeter players that can be
productive. We're going to run our offense, we're not going to
change anything. The other side of it, Greg is a very valuable
member to our football team. But as far as Aaron's approach, it
won't change."
|
