Former Packer Aaron Jones leads Minnesota’s comeback win over Green Bay

MINNEAPOLIS -- Aaron Jones returned to the end zone against his former team Sunday, scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown as the Minnesota Vikings rallied past the Green Bay Packers in their season opener.

Jones, the former UTEP standout and El Paso native, capped an 83-yard Minnesota drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 6:37 remaining in the fourth quarter. He then watched as the Vikings converted a 2-point try to cut Green Bay's lead.

Minnesota continued its comeback moments later when Jordan Mason scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Vikings the lead.

The game marked another chapter in Jones' long history with Green Bay. The Packers selected Jones in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft after he finished his UTEP career as the Miners' all-time leading rusher.

Jones spent his first seven NFL seasons with Green Bay before joining Minnesota in 2024. He returned Sunday for his third season with the Vikings and faced the team that helped launch his NFL career.

The Vikings' comeback came after a difficult start.

Minnesota opened the game with Kyler Murray at quarterback, but Murray left in the first quarter after suffering a concussion while scrambling. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game, with Carson Wentz taking over.

Green Bay built a 19-10 halftime lead behind quarterback Jordan Love and receiver Christian Watson. Watson caught an 81-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and added another touchdown late in the first half.

Wentz helped Minnesota stay within striking distance, connecting with Justin Jefferson for a 39-yard touchdown in the second quarter and T.J. Hockenson for a 16-yard score in the third.

Then came Jones.

The former Miner powered Minnesota's fourth-quarter comeback with his touchdown run, giving El Paso fans another reason to watch one of the city's most successful football players on the NFL stage.

Jones played at Burges High School before starring at UTEP from 2013-16. He finished his college career with 4,114 rushing yards, establishing himself as one of the most accomplished players in program history before making the jump to the NFL.

For Jones, Sunday's matchup was more than a season opener. It was a meeting with the franchise that drafted him, while also giving his hometown and former college fan base another chance to watch an El Paso product make an impact on the NFL stage.

FINAL: Minnesota Vikings 39 - 19 Green Bay Packers