When the Packers drafted Josh Jones in the third round back in April, it was only a matter of time into the regular season before the rookie would begin making his case for more snaps.
Now, after an injury to Kentrell Brice in last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Jones got his shot.
He didn't play in the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks and he saw just 29 snaps against the aforementioned Falcons, but on Sunday, he made sure his presence was felt tenfold against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jones led the team in every defensive category by the time Mason Crosby's walk-off field goal won the game in overtime for the Packers. He finished with 12 total tackles, two sacks and three tackles for a loss. He also got to Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton for two hits.
Josh Jones (27) celebrating after sacking Andy Dalton. (Dan Powers/USA TODAY Sports)
Both of his sacks came in crucial third-down situations. One in the first quarter and one in the third to push the Bengals nearly entirely out of field goal range when they were threatening to increase their lead to double-digits. Jones' sack forced Randy Bullock to miss his kick wide right from 48 yards away.
Jones also made a vital third-down tackle on the Bengals' lone overtime possession, forcing the punt and giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense a chance to win the game -- which is precisely what they did.
Whether this performance knocks Brice down on the depth chart and leaves Jones as a significant component to defensive coordinator Dom Capers' "nitro package" is unlikely, considering the Packers don't make assessments based off of one game.
One thing, however, is for certain: The Packers are going to have to find a way to get Jones more snaps.
Many viewed the North Carolina State product as a replacement for ex-cornerback Micah Hyde, who was a human Swiss Army knife for the defense. Others, meanwhile, see him as an outlet that provides safety Morgan Burnett to play on the back end at his natural safety spot. Either that or Burnett's eventual replacement.
Sunday was a hint of the many possibilities Jones is capable of when deployed into a variety of situations. He essentially shined on third down against the Bengals and could certainly be attributed as one of the major reasons why the Packers were able to walk away with their second win of the season.
Between Jones and inside linebacker Blake Martinez, who somehow flew under the radar despite finishing second on the team in tackles (11) just behind Jones -- one of them being an impressive open-field tackle on A.J. Green in the fourth quarter -- the Packers certainly have a handful of performances to gush over.
On a short week, the Packers will lick their wounds and hope to get back at least a couple of their seven doubtful players from week three before Thursday night when the rival Chicago Bears venture into Lambeau Field.
Filed Under:[URL=/blog/category/featured" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]Featured[/URL][URL=/blog/category/green-bay-packers" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]Green Bay Packers[/URL]NFL Categories:[URL=/taxonomy/term/12313" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]NFC North[/URL]Tags:[URL=/tag/josh-jones" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]Josh Jones[/URL][URL=/tag/safeties" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]safeties[/URL][URL=/tag/blake-martinez" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]Blake Martinez[/URL][URL=/tag/defense" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="]Defense[/URL]
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