Running back Aaron Jones returns to Packers practice ahead of Week 14

Packers running back Aaron Jones returned to practice on Thursday ahead of the team’s Week 14 matchup against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Jones, dealing with a knee injury, missed the last two games and has missed five over the course of the first 12 games.

Reporters spotted the running back going through drills at practice on Thursday but the official practice report will reveal whether he’s practicing in full or still limited due to the knee injury. The Packers have won the last four of five games and despite the Giants’ 4-8 record, they could still use Jones’ help in primetime on Monday.

Though Jones returned to practice, wide receiver Christian Watson, linebacker Quay Walker, and safety Darnell Savage were not on the field. Last week against the Chiefs, Watson led the receivers with two touchdown snags amid his seven catches and 71 yards.

In Jones’ absence last week, running back AJ Dillon led the charge. Dillon had 18 carries for 73 rushing yards.

Through seven games played this season, Jones is second on the team in rushing yards. He has 245 yards on 66 carries with two touchdowns. He also added 169 receiving yards when he was healthy.

While the running game has been up and down, the Packers have seen substantial improvement out of quarterback Jordan Love — a big reason why Green Bay has won three in a row and four of its last five. Love was superb in the 27-19 Week 13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) Sunday, completing 25-of-36 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

Packers add running back Kenyan Drake

The Green Bay Packers (6-6) signed veteran running back Kenyan Drake to their practice squad Tuesday and released fellow running back James Robinson in a corresponding move.

Green Bay also claimed cornerback David Long Jr. off waivers from the Carolina Panthers (1-11). Drake, in his eighth season in the NFL, appeared in two games this season for the Baltimore Ravens (9-3). He received one carry, rushing for zero yards and added 31 yards on two receptions.

Drake, a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Alabama, spent three seasons with the Miami Dolphins (9-3), two with the Arizona Cardinals (3-10), one with the Las Vegas Raiders (5-7) and the last two in Baltimore. Drake has tallied 3,866 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry and 33 touchdowns as well as 218 receptions for 1,655 yards and eight scores.

On3’s Nick Geddes contributed to this report.