Aaron Jones

Jones, 25, was tied for the most touchdowns scored during the 2019 NFL season with 19, including 16 rushing scores.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Jones said he wanted to finish his career with the Packers.

"Whether it's my first year or my last year on a deal, I'm going to be just as motivated," Jones told Green Bay media during a conference call on Wednesday.

"It doesn't change just because a contract is on the line for me. I'm going to continue to work and do everything in my power. I trust my agency and the Packers.

"With that, I would love to be a lifelong Packer."

Jones has played 40 games for the Packers since his debut in 2017, scoring 32 touchdowns.

Jones lost a necklace containing the ashes in the course of scoring four touchdowns for the Packers against the Detroit Lions on Monday night.

Although he was saddened to be parted from the necklace, Jones said after the Packers' 35-17 win: "If there was any place to lose it, that's where my dad would've wanted me to lose it, so I know he's smiling."

He was optimistic it would be found and was proven right.

Alvin Jones Sr died in April from complications related to COVID-19, having been an important guiding hand behind his son's football career.

The Packers understood the significance of the necklace and long-serving head athletic trainer Bryan Engel set out shortly before 2am to scour the end zone where Jones believed it had gone missing.

"Our trainer Bryan Engel – 'Flea' – he went out there and he found it," Jones told the Steve Czaban Show on 97.3 The Game.

"It's really small. A lot of times it just sits inside my shirt. A lot of people won't even see it or recognise it."

Engel is in his 25th year on the Packers staff and is responsible for managing the team's medical care, but he went the extra mile this time.

Asked how the necklace could prove so difficult to spot on a football field, Jones said: "I'm not sure, maybe because it's so small, but Flea found it so we're perfect.

"Thank you to him. He was out there at like 1:45am. It shows how much they care about us."

Rodgers won his one and only championship in 2010 after the Packers topped the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

As the Packers prepare for Sunday's NFC divisional playoff against the Seattle Seahawks, Rodgers is eyeing another ring.

"It's on my mind every day," the two-time MVP told reporters on Wednesday. "That's why we play the game.

"That's why you put in the time in the offseason, that's why you do the little things. It's to put yourself in this position, where we're two games away from being able to compete for that.

"I'm 36, I know what this is all about. This is an important opportunity for us. I feel like I've got a lot of really good years left, but you never know. A lot of things happen year to year.

"We've had some great teams that have been an injury away or a play away from being special, so I want to make the most of this opportunity."

"When I was 31, I thought I was going to play into my 40s and that was still a decade away," the eight-time Pro Bowler added. "Now, I'm 36, so now we're a half a decade away."

Teams can negotiate with free agents from Monday, and franchises will be able to announce signings from Wednesday when the new league year begins.

The drop in salary cap, which is set at $182.5million, means many teams will have limited financial means with which to pursue their potential targets.

Yet there is a select group of players that will be able to command top dollar regardless of the economic challenges the coronavirus has presented.

Here we look at some of the players in that category by ranking the top 10 players set to hit the open market.

1. Shaquil Barrett - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the Buccaneers franchising wide receiver Chris Godwin, Barrett is set to hit the open market and will earn a long overdue payday. Pivotal to Tampa's success in Super Bowl LV, only T.J. Watt (29.5) has more sacks over the last two seasons than Barrett's 27.5.

2. Trent Williams - San Francisco 49ers

It is extremely rare for left tackles of Williams' calibre to hit free agency. Williams would not be doing so had the Niners agreed not to franchise tag him. There have been positive noises about him re-signing with San Francisco, but Williams will likely command over $20million a year. He has not allowed more than 3.5 sacks since the 2014 season when he gave up six.

3. Kenny Golladay - Detroit Lions

Golladay was not franchised by the Lions following an injury-hit 2020, but that should not cloud what he did in his first three years in the league. One of the league's top big-play threats, Golladay's 33 receptions of 25 yards or more ranked fifth in the NFL between 2017 and 2019.

4. Aaron Jones - Green Bay Packers

That the Packers elected not to pay Jones $8million for one season on the franchise tag is not reflective of the running back's tremendous skill set. He has 43 touchdowns from scrimmage since entering the league in 2017, the eighth-most in the NFL in that time.

5. Carl Lawson - Cincinnati Bengals

One of the most underrated pass rushers on the market, the sack numbers have not quite been there for Lawson. He had only 5.5 last season but was tied-ninth in the NFL in hurries and knockdowns with 65.5. Lawson should flourish playing on a superior defense to that of Cincinnati.

6. Joe Thuney - New England Patriots

Franchised last year, Thuney could become the league's highest-paid guard and deservedly so. The picture of reliability, he has allowed just 1.5 sacks over the past three seasons in New England, playing in every regular season game.

7. Bud Dupree - Pittsburgh Steelers

Dupree has 19.5 sacks in the last two seasons, but his free agency value will be hurt by the torn ACL that brought his 2020 to a premature end. He has shown a nose for the football during his surge in production, Dupree's six forced fumbles from 2019-20 the fourth-highest total in that span.

8. Corey Linsley - Green Bay Packers

Linsley's pending free agency may have influenced the Packers' decision not to franchise Jones. They will surely make effort to bring the center back, Linsley having allowed one sack this season. For the second time in three seasons, he did not commit a single holding penalty and played a pivotal role in a rushing attack that finished eighth in yards per game.

9. Trey Hendrickson - New Orleans Saints

Hendrickson enjoyed a breakout year for a Saints team mired in salary cap hell. He won't be back in New Orleans, but should have no shortage of suitors at the age of 26 after finishing tied-second in the NFL with 13.5 sacks. 

10. Curtis Samuel - Carolina Panthers

Samuel perfectly fits an era where there is an increasing emphasis on wide receivers who can operate out of the backfield. He was second in rushing yards among wideouts with 200 and finished the year 11th in scrimmage yards per touch (8.9).

The Packers had led for most of the game after AJ Dillon's first-quarter touchdown but the 49ers drew level late when Jordan Willis blocked Corey Bojorquez's punt allowing Talanoa Hufanga to collect the loose ball and run into the end-zone.

The 49ers regained possession with 3:25 to play, with Deebo Samuel helping drive them into field-goal range before 39-year-old Gould nailed his 45-yard attempt on the final whistle.

Samuel had 10 carries for 39 yards along with three catches for 44 yards and two kick returns for 59 yards, while 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards with one interception.

San Francisco will face either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, while it is season over for Aaron Rodgers' Packers.

Rodgers completed 20 of 29 passes for 225 yards but with no touchdowns, with running back Dillon scored their TD after a 10-play drive.

The Packers might have led 10-0 at the main break after Adrian Amos' pick, with Rodgers finding Aaron Jones for 75 yards although his run was curtailed. In the same drive, Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby had his 39-yard attempt blocked by Jimmie Ward on the half-time whistle.

The 49ers got on the board with Gould's third-quarter field goal, before the late drama with the veteran sealing their passage into the NFC Championship Game.

Jones' new deal is worth $48million, including a $13m signing bonus, over four years in Green Bay.

The 2020 NFL Pro Bowler was eligible to test the free-agent market after the Packers opted not to franchise tag Jones.

However, Jones – drafted by the Packers in 2017 – decided to remain at Lambeau Field.

"We anticipated bigger offers in free agency, but Aaron wanted to stay with the Packers," agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN.

Jones also tweeted a picture, with the caption: "let's run it back" on Sunday.

The 26-year-old ranked fourth for rushing yards (1,104) in the NFL last season, behind Derrick Henry (2,027), Dalvin Cook (1,557) and Jonathan Taylor (1,169).

He was also fourth for rushing yards per game (78.9) as Aaron Rodgers and the Packers reached the NFC Championship Game, beaten by eventual Super Bowl winners the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jones – a fifth-round pick – made his first Pro Bowl, becoming the lowest-drafted Packers running back since Dorsey Levens in 1997 to do so.

The reigning Super Bowl champions scored 14 points from turnovers as New England suffered a myriad of offensive issues at Arrowhead Stadium with Cam Newton sidelined following a positive covid-19 test.

Patriots veteran Brian Hoyer stepped in and completed 15 of 24 passes for 130 yards and an interception, twice having the ball inside Kansas City’s 16-yard line without coming away with any points.

With the Patriots 6-3 behind and in short field-goal range, Hoyer was sacked by Frank Clark with seconds remaining to close out the first half, before the 34-year-old lost a fumble in the red zone to Taco Charlton.

The result means the Seattle Seahawks will go into the Wild Card round as the seventh seed in the NFC where they will face the San Francisco 49ers.

Seattle's overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams shortly prior to kickoff meant the Lions were out of postseason contention but the Packers had a simple win-and-in scenario yet they could not complete the job.

The Packers, who had won four straight games coming in, miss the playoffs for the first time under head coach Matt LaFleur.

Veteran Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw a fourth-quarter interception to Kerby Joseph after the Lions had re-taken the lead from Williams' second rushing TD. Lions quarterback Jared Goff sealed the win on a fourth-and-one with 1:15 remaining when he found D.J. Chark for first down.

Rodgers finished the game with one touchdown pass and one interception, completing 17 of 27 passes for 205 yards, while Goff threw for 224 yards on 23-of-34 passing.

Williams' game-winning touchdown, which was his 17th rushing TD for the season to surpass Barry Sanders' franchise record, came after Quay Walker was inexplicably ejected after pushing a Lions training staff member attending to the injured De'Andre Swift. It was the second time Walker has been ejected this season.

Lions running back Williams, who ran for 72 yards on 16 carries, had put the Lions ahead with a third quarter TD after Goff found Kalif Raymond for 43 yards, before Rodgers found Allen Lazard on a 13-yard TD pass to immediately re-claim the lead. Rodgers had linked up with Christian Watson for a 45-yard pass two plays prior, with the rookie having 104 yards from five receptions for the game.

The Packers were left to rue Rodgers' interception, Walker's disqualification and a second-quarter Aaron Jones' fumble.

Running back Aaron Jones was outstanding with two touchdowns for the Packers, who bounced back from their 23-7 Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay have now won their home opener in 10 consecutive years.

Rodgers was the center of attention, given his history against NFC North rivals Chicago, improving his all-time record against the Bears to 24-5. On Sunday, he had two touchdown passes, completing 19-of-25 for 234 yards, meaning in his past four games against the Bears he has 14 touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Packers QB brought up his 450th career passing touchdown for Jones' first as Green Bay piled on three second-quarter touchdowns after Justin Fields had run into the endzone to give the Bears an early lead.

In the second half, Rodgers also tied a career-high 14 consecutive completions, matching a mark he set back in 2014 against the New York Jets.

Beyond Rodgers' contribution, Green Bay had almost 200 rushing yards from Jones (15 carries for 132 yards) and AJ Dillon (18 carries for 61 yards) adding variety to their offense. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins had three receptions for 93 yards including a fourth-quarter 55-yard gain to flip the field.

Jones got the first 'Lambeau Leap' of the season after weaving his way into the endzone, before he also ran around the edge from Rodgers' pass to open up a 17-7 lead. Rodgers found Randall Cobb to pick up 20, before sending a laser to Allen Lazard for their third TD before half-time.

Fields, who twice fell short of a running touchdown on the goal-line in the fourth quarter, completed seven-of-11 attempts for 70 yards with one interception, with David Montgomery running 122 yards from 15 carries. Jaire Alexander's late interception sealed the win for the Packers.

Rodgers, who controversially remarked that he "owns" the Bears following October's clash, threw four touchdowns to help the Packers (10-3) rally from a half-time deficit.

The Packers quarterback – now boasting a 23-5 record against the Bears – completed 29 of 37 attempts for 341 yards as NFC North leaders Green Bay overturned a 10-point second-quarter deficit.

Packers wide receiver Davante Adams finished with two touchdowns, including one late in a wild second quarter where both sides traded six TDs, while Aaron Jones also had two TDs.

The game burst to life in the second quarter with 45 points scored – the most ever in the Packers-Bears rivalry, after Rodgers had been sacked by Robert Quinn in the first.

Rasul Douglas had a second pick-six in consecutive games, this time from Justin Fields on his return from a rib injury for the Bears (4-9), completing 18 of 33 attempts for 224 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Jakeem Grant scored two for the Bears, including the season's first punt return TD, running 97 yards – the longest in Chicago's history. Rodgers found Lazard and Adams for touchdowns, while Damiere Byrd also crossed for the Bears.

After the Packers trailed 27-21 at half-time, Jones capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a rushing TD to take the lead, before Rodgers lobbed a pass to him for his second.

In the fourth quarter, Rodgers found Adams for his second to stretch the lead to 18 points, while Kindle Vildor's penalty for being out of bounds on the punt denied Damien Williams a TD for the Bears, who scored their only second-half points late from Cairo Santos' fourth field goal.