Pick-six rundown of the Green Bay Packers’ 12th training camp practice

Aaron Jones has returned, plus highlights from the offense, defense and special teams from Saturday.

After missing the last six practices of training camp and Thursday’s preseason opener, Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is being eased back into things.

Jones took part only in individual drills at Saturday’s practice after being sidelined since July 31 with a hamstring injury.

“I wouldn’t even call it an injury. It’s just tightness,” Jones corrected.

Jones is the clear leader of the backfield pack, and getting him healthy – and keeping him healthy – will be critical for the offense. Not only does coach Matt LaFleur wants to run the ball more frequently, but he wants to use the running game as a launching point for a play-action passing attack. Jones, with his 5.5-yard averages as a rookie in 2017 and again last season, gives the team its best chance for success.

“I’m pretty comfortable in the offense,” he said. “I would like to get my feet wet in the preseason, but I feel comfortable with the offense. I’m glad we had the OTA period, all the installs were like going back over the OTA stuff, and it was fresh in my mind. So for that part, I’m good. But, of course, I’d like to get my feet wet” in the preseason.

INJURY REPORT

After a day off, 10 players missed practice and fullback Danny Vitale and cornerback Kabion Ento dropped out.

Out: WR Trevor Davis (stinger), CB Kevin King (hamstring), RB Jamaal Williams (hamstring), ILB Oren Burks (chest), FB Danny Vitale (calf), FB Malcolm Johnson (groin), CB Kabion Ento (calf), OLB Greg Roberts (core muscle), RT Bryan Bulaga (rest), TE Jace Sternberger (concussion), DT Kingsley Keke (quad) and DT Fadol Brown (calf).

LaFleur did not have an update on Burks, who was injured on the opening series of Thursday’s game. The news, however, could be horrible, especially at a position group that lacks experience.

Returned: S Josh Jones, RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), CB Josh Jackson (foot), C Corey Linsley (bicep) and OLB Preston Smith (back).

OFFENSE

With Bulaga getting the day off, the Packers shifted right guard Billy Turner to right tackle and inserted rookie Elgton Jenkins at right guard. This was the first time in camp that it was Turner, and not Jason Spriggs (now on injured reserve) or Alex Light, taking the tackle snaps.

Turner started four games at right tackle last season for Denver but hadn’t taken any tackle reps in training camp.

“Nothing’s been said to me” about the team’s regular-season plan, Turner said. “Coach let me know before practice that I was going to be out at tackle today. I think he wanted to get me some work out there just because Coach knows I can play multiple positions. If we ever get into a jam, it won’t be a situation like it has been in the past for me for other teams, where I’m just getting thrown out there and playing a position that I haven’t played all year long, if ever. It’s being able to get me some work out there in case anything were to happen during the season.”

DEFENSE

While the offense had a good day, the defense got interceptions from inside linebacker Ty Summers against DeShone Kizer, inside linebacker Brady Sheldon against Tim Boyle and cornerback Kabion Ento against Kizer.

Meanwhile, cornerback Tony Brown was the star of the final period of the day. He was targeted four times by Aaron Rodgers and defended deep passes to Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, was in good position on another incompletion to Valdes-Scantling and almost intercepted a pass to Jimmy Graham.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mason Crosby was the big winner in the field-goal competition. Crosby and Sam Ficken each got kicks from 24, 31, 35, 41 and 44 yards. Crosby made all five while Ficken missed from 41 and 44.

SCHEDULE

The Packers will practice again at 10:15 a.m. Sunday. After a day off on Monday, the team will practice at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday before departing for Thursday night’s preseason game at Baltimore.