Aaron Jones ready to return for Green Bay after suspension

The Green Bay Packers have officially activated Aaron Jones after the former UTEP star running back served a two-game suspension to begin the season.

Jones is eligible to play Sunday on the road against the Washington Redskins, although it’s unclear how much he’ll see the field in his first game back.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery will be in the “first slots” at running back this week.

But Jones is anxious to at least be back around his teammates on Sundays.

“It was very difficult. It was very humbling. You see it from two different perspectives. I mean, you’re in here during the day with them in meetings, and then you have to go home,” he said. “And Sundays you’re at home watching the game, and you’re like, ‘I was just there in the facility with those guys.'”

The Packers (1-0-1) enter week three tied for 25th in the league in total rushing yards. The team is averaging 4.0 yards per attempt, which also ranks in the bottom half of the NFL (18th overall).

Jones could help bring up that average if he sustains the production he had in his rookie campaign. Jones averaged 5.5 yards per carry his rookie season on 81 attempts.

The former UTEP star was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension was handed down after Jones pleaded no contest to a marijuana-related charge stemming from a traffic stop that occurred on Oct. 1, 2017.

Jones says he’s grown a lot since last October.

“I mean, everything is a learning lesson,” he said. “You know, you’ve just got to take it in stride and be a man about the mistake you made and learn from it. At the end of the day, I know I hurt myself. So, it’s something I’ve got to deal with.”