Packers Morning Buzz: Looking to keep Aaron Jones healthy

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with Eric Baranczyk and Pete Dougherty writing about the Packers' inside pass rush and also about the outlook for running back Aaron Jones.

Eric and Pete write:

Coach Mike McCarthy isn’t going to say it publicly, but his plan with Aaron Jones seems straight forward: He’s limiting Jones’ snaps now because he wants his best running back healthy and effective at season’s end.

It’s hard to argue with that approach. Last year as a rookie Jones tore the MCL in one knee, missed three games, then tore his other MCL in late December. This year, he missed three weeks of training camp because of a pulled hamstring. He’s not a big guy (208 pounds) and doesn’t appear to be real durable. So as much as the Packers would like to get him 20 touches a game, they’re probably smart to keep it to more like 15.

Over the course of this season, that could mean 70 or fewer times when he’s taking a hit. Sunday against Buffalo, for instance, Jones had 12 touches (11 carries, one reception). But in those 12 touches he again showed the explosiveness he brings to the offense with a 30-yard run included in his 65 yards rushing. It doesn’t take an expert to see that when he’s on the field, the Packers’ offense is different and better.

Be sure to read their entire analysis here:

Jones thinks the Packers' running game has explosive potential:

Eric and Pete hand out their weekly Packers position grades from the 22-0 victory over the Bills:

Packers coach Mike McCarthy kept his cool Monday when asked about Aaron Rodgers' remarks that were critical of the offensive game plan:

In his morning-after "4 Downs" column, Pete looks at Rodgers' mobility issues:

It sounds like Randall Cobb's injured hamstring could also sideline him this Sunday in Detroit:

Tickets price are high for Packers-Lions, but not as high as another road game in November:

ICYMI, the Packers Podcast addresses the McCarthy-Rodgers rift:

The Packers won't be unfurling that banner we saw before Sunday's game anymore:

How Rodgers put the 9-year-old co-star of his Bose commercial at ease:

Tailgating at Lambeau Field taken to an art form:

The Packers were interested in drafting Florida State safety Derwin James but instead traded down:

The NFL apparently has been too busy focusing on roughing the passer:

But it should be noted that the roughing-the-passer penalties decreased significantly in Week 4:

And finally ....