Aaron Jones planning to do something special in return to Green Bay

In the rivalry between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, there have been several players who have experienced a return to Lambeau Field. While it may not have the animosity that Brett Favre had in 2009, another former Packer will experience that feeling when Aaron Jones returns to Green Bay on Sunday.

Jones spent seven seasons with the Packers after he was selected by Green Bay in the 2019 NFL Draft. While he said that his return won’t be too surprising since the Vikings are staying in Appleton and he’s been in the visitor’s locker room, he also said that he’s planning on doing something else to make him feel at home – the Lambeau Leap.

“I’m definitely leaping. [I’m] definitely leaping up there. It depends on which end zone I score in, but either end zone is not too tall. It is kind of high up there, but I can still get up there.”

Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones facing Green Bay Packers for first time since departure

Jones visited the end zone frequently during his time with the Packers, ranking fourth all-time in franchise history with 45 touchdowns. But he also did plenty of his scoring at Lambeau Field, ranking second since 1994 behind Ahman Green (31) with 27 rushing touchdowns at home.

While Jones has since traded in his Lambeau Leap for a “Bank Vault” after signing with the Vikings last spring, the 30-year-old has his eyes set on visiting the end zone one more time.

“If you’re not thinking about the end zone, you’re thinking about the wrong thing. …Hopefully, there’s a Vikings fan in one of them so I can jump up to them. I think that’ll be a pretty cool shot, a pretty cool side-by-side with the two jerseys.”

Jones’s return is a key storyline in what’s a big early-season matchup between the Vikings and Packers. He told reporters that signing with the Vikings was a business decision by him and the organization, and he still has respect for the players in the locker room and the fans, who Jones said “were kind of in the middle.”

“I feel like I didn’t say goodbye. …I just wanted to let them know ‘Hey, it’s nothing but love and respect.’ I’m here now. This is where my heart is. I love being here. I love everything about this organization. But I just want to tell them thank you for my time there, for accepting me, allowing me to become the player that I am. The community welcomed me with open arms and [allowed] me to make an impact in the community.”

Jones and the Vikings will battle the Packers at 12 p.m. CST on Sunday.

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