James Jones started out the season hot, but has since slowed down and the Green Bay Packers are having quite a few issues offensively. Rumors are beginning to swirl asking whether or not Jones is capable of being a No. 1 wide receiver for the Packers.
Losing Jordy Nelson during preseason action is finally starting to haunt Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers was used to having an elite deep threat, but without him they don't have a single deep threat. Jones hasn't been a consistent deep threat throughout his career and neither Randall Cobb or Davante Adams are capable of making big plays down the field either.
Throughout the first 11 games of the season, Jones has caught 30 passes for 592 yards and seven touchdowns.
Green Bay has dropped four of their last five games and are currently 7-4 on the season. Losing against the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving was an absolutely brutal loss. There are plenty of needs for the Packers, but the biggest problem has been the lack of a go-to target for Rodgers.
Rodgers has always had a go-to target in Nelson. Looking back at the past few seasons, Nelson has been the receiver that has stepped up to make plays for Rodgers that many receivers in the NFL couldn't make.
At 31 years old, Jones is becoming the complete player that Green Bay saw him becoming two years ago. He may not be a superstar in any area of his game, but his skill-set is well-rounded and he is solid at everything. Those players are the type of talent that every team needs to have.
That being said, there are major issues with Jones being a No. 1 target for the Packers.
First of all, he doesn't have the speed or quickness to beat defenders anywhere on the field. That has become apparent over the last couple of weeks and there is no chance that he can improve that area of his game. Green Bay has used him as a major red zone threat, but that alone isn't going to cut it either.
Secondly, while he has a good chemistry with Rodgers for the most part he isn't as good as Nelson was. He is unable to be the type of playmaker that Nelson was and that has limited what Green Bay has been able to do.
While Jones can be the No. 1 target for the Packers, he isn't going to be that for them this season.
Expect to see the Packers' offense continue struggling throughout the remainder of the season. Rodgers is not going to get a true No. 1 receiver until next season, which could be what ends up dooming the Packers when everything is said and done.
