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Packers parting company with Jones

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Josh Jones

Green Bay safety Josh Jones announced on Twitter Sunday morning that he is being released by the Packers.  Jones was the team’s second-round draft pick in the 2017 NFL draft and had sat out much of the off-season program after requesting a trade.

Jones hadn’t practiced since August 11 because of an illness.  He started five of the Packers last six games in 2018, finishing sixth in tackles with 60.

The Packers used Jones as a hybrid linebacker in 2018, but Jones said he didn’t consider himself a linebacker and wanted to play safety.

Jones had fallen behind Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage and Raven Greene.  Eventually even the play of free agents Will Redmond and Chandon Sullivan has dropped Jones further out of sight and out of mind.

The Packers will gain about $300,000 in salary cap space as a result of his release.

 

Jones reports to minicamp but future remains uncertain (AUDIO)

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Josh Jones

Green Bay Packers safety Josh Jones reported to minicamp on Tuesday but stood on the sidelines and watch because of a hamstring injury.

Jones had been a no-show during the rest of the teams offseason program, including OTA’s.  Those sessions were voluntary.  Jones said he spent the last several weeks training in Florida, which is where he injured his hamstring.

Instead of working out with his teammates, Jones said he prefers working with his trainer in Florida, and he wanted to spend more time with family, especially his young daughter.

When asked if Jones wanted to be traded, Jones referred reporters to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Gutekunst met with reporters following Tuesday’s workout and left the door to a trade open. [Read more…]

Jones skips OTA, reportedly seeking a trade (AUDIO)

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Josh Jones (27)

Josh Jones wasn’t happy with a lack of playing time last season and that frustration continued when the Green Bay Packers signed free agent safety Adrian Amos and selected Maryland’s Darnell Savage in the first round of the NFL Draft.  Expecting that his playing time won’t increase much with those personnel moves, Jones opted to skip the start of OTA’s this week.

Coach Matt LaFleur made sure to mention to reporters on Tuesday that OTA’s are “voluntary” under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, but it’s simply unheard of in today’s NFL for a player to miss the teams off-season program without a legitimate reason.

LaFleur said he has not spoken with Jones and told reporters that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst would handle the situation.  LaFleur didn’t answer how he would handle the situation if Jones misses the teams mandatory minicamp, which starts on June 11.

Jones still has two years left on his original rookie contract, leaving him little bargaining power. [Read more…]

Packers dig early hole and fall to Lions in Detroit

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Mason Crosby

The Green Bay Packers racked up 521 yards of offense, never punted and allowed just 264 yards, yet still lost 31-23 to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.

The Packers dug themselves a hole, training 24-0 at halftime and they didn’t get any help from their kicker.  Mason Crosby missed five kicks, four field goals and one extra point in the loss.  He had field goal misses from 41, 42, 38 and 56 yards, capping off the worst kicking day of his career.

The Packers struggled on special teams aside from Crosby’s misses.  On the Lions first punt, Kevin King had the ball go off his back and Detroit recovered on the one-yard line, setting up the first of two LeGarrette Blount 1-yard touchdown runs.

On the next kickoff, Ty Montgomery returned the ball 64 yards, only to have that called back when Josh Jones was flagged for holding on the opposite side of the field. [Read more…]

Ryan out for the season

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Jake Ryan

Green Bay Packers linebacker Jake Ryan suffered a torn ACL in his right knee in practice on Monday and will miss the rest of the season.

Ryan, who is in the final year of his contract in Green Bay, also tore his right ACL when he was in college at the University of Michigan.  He will earn his base salary of $1.907 million for this season.

Ryan was set to start in the Packers base defense, now Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine will have to find an alternative.  Pettine has used a number of players during practice this week, including Quentin Rollins, Josh Jones and Jermaine Whitehead and rookie Oren Burks in the dime package.

On Tuesday, general manager Brian Gutekunst said he had no plans to replace Ryan with a veteran.  He wanted to see how Burks and the other young players do in Camp.  Ahmad Thomas, Greer Martini and Naashon Hughes have all shown flashes in the first week.

Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was asked on Wednesday how me might replace Ryan.  Pettine said, “Well, certainly we have experience in a guy that was very productive last year in Blake.  We have the rookie, O.B. (Burks), who has looked good at times.  Still, the transition from the college game to the NFL, it takes some time.

“It’s tough for those guys to come in, and it overwhelms them a little bit at first.  And especially now, we’re working off the entire inventory.  And once we get to game plan situations, we really cut it down.  That’s going to help a lot of our guys that have a lot of stuff running through their head.

“Ahmad Thomas has flashed, certainly, some coverage ability in the days so far.  And then we have some other, younger guys.  We’ll see how it plays out.  It’s a big loss.”

Burnett signs free agent deal with the Steelers

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Josh Jones & Morgan Burnett during 2017 Training Camp

Once the Green Bay Packers saw the asking price for veteran safety Morgan Burnett, they dropped out of the running.

During discussions between the two camps at the NFL Scouting Combine, the Packers found out that Burnett was looking for more than $8.5 million a year.  He settled for a three-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a reported $14.5 million.

Burnett was considered a top safety on the market, but the market wasn’t a good one for that position.  Instead of resigning Burnett, the Packers will go with younger players, like last years second round draft pick Josh Jones, as well as Kentrell Brice and Marwin Evans.

Burnett missed four games last season with hamstring and groin injuries.  He hasn’t played a full season since 2012.

Burnett ruled out of Packers lineup on Sunday

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The Green Bay Packers will play Sunday’s divisional matchup at Minnesota without starting safety Morgan Burnett.

Burnett suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s win over the Dallas Cowboys and was ruled out on the teams final injury report on Friday.  He’s joined by linebacker Joe Thomas, who is dealing with an ankle injury.

The Packers are expected to turn to Kentrell Brice and rookie Josh Jones to take Burnett’s place in Dom Capers defense.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will take over the communication helmet normally worn by Burnett.

It is also possible the Packers could be without rookie corner Kevin King (concussion).  Veteran Davon House is also listed as questionable with the quadriceps injury that has seen him miss two games already this season.  King and linebacker Ahmad Brooks (back) are both listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game.

The Vikings will be without their top receiver Stefon Diggs (groin), quarterback Sam Bradford (knee) and starting guard Nick Easton (calf).

King could see larger role with the Packers

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#20 Kevin King

After getting just six snaps in the Green Bay Packers season opener against Seattle, defensive back Kevin King played in 46 snaps in last Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.  The Packers top draft pick was one of the few bright spots in that contest and could see more opportunity this week when the Packers host the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field.

King didn’t get the start against Atlanta, but where others failed, King came on to try to slow down Atlanta’s Julio Jones and was successful.

King replaced Damarious Randall at right corner in the second quarter.

“I thought Kevin did a good job,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said.  “I think he continues to grow, you know? We’re encouraged with his progress. He competes well. You saw him break up a couple (of) balls on crossing routes. he’s not afraid to get up and challenge receivers, and I like his style of play.”

The Packers selected King and safety Josh Jones, who also saw an increase in playing time after Kentrell Brice left the game with a groin injury.  The Packers identified a lack of speed as one of its goals to improve on during the offseason.

We’ll see Sunday if the time is now for King and Jones.