The Sports Xchange

CHICAGO — When training camp began, or even when it ended, you’d have gotten long odds that wide receiver James Jones would be a key player in Green Bay’s 31-23 opening-day victory over the Chicago Bears.

Mostly because Jones was not a Packer.

But the veteran receiver, who spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with Green Bay, became available when the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants released him in the last half-year. The Packers, short of depth after losing wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending injury, re-signed Jones last week, and he caught two touchdown passes and set up a third TD to key the opening victory.

“I don’t think it was that out of character,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, asked if he were surprised Jones could again contribute so quickly. “It’s a credit to him, and the way he approaches his job. I had no hesitation (throwing) to him.”

Actually, Jones caught three TD passes, but one was wiped out by a penalty. But none of his catches were as important as the 34-yard pass interference penalty against Chicago cornerback Kyle Fuller, trying to cover Jones at the 2-yard line, with two minutes remaining.

That call set up a short touchdown run by Eddie Lacy that clinched the game, putting the Packers ahead, 31-16.

Jones “is a great guy (and) a great teammate,” Rodgers said. “We were really fortunate that he was available at the end of the cuts.”

“It looked like we didn’t miss a beat,” Jones said.

Rodgers, who has won 10 straight games against Chicago when he throws at least five passes, had a solid if unspectacular day in large measure because Chicago’s ball-control offense denied him opportunities. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 189 yards but the Packers had just seven possessions, not counting two end-of-half kneel downs, as the Bears ran off 18 more plays on offense.

Running back Matt Forte almost single-handedly kept Chicago in the game by rushing for 141 yards on 24 carries but the Bears, mystifyingly, did not hand off to Forte at a critical point in the fourth quarter.

What we learned about the Packers:

1. Even without Jordy Nelson, they appear to have enough weapons for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to target. But getting James Jones back on the team was a real stroke of good fortune because, as Jones showed in his two-touchdown performance on Sunday, there is not much of a learning curve.

2. They need to tighten up the run defense. The Packers would like us to believe that some magical adjustments improved the defense in the second half, but they still allowed four and a half yards a carry after halftime and benefitted from Chicago’s strange playcalling near the goal line.

3. Aaron Rodgers is healthier than he was at the end of last season, and that means his legs are back in the game. Discounting two end-of-half kneel downs, Rodgers wound up with six carries for 36 yards and repeatedly was able to escape from trouble.

Etc.

–WR James Jones, who played the first seven seasons of his career with Green Bay but played last year with the Raiders before being cut this spring, and later cut by the New York Giants, caught four passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns and also drew a big interference penalty that set up a touchdown.

–RB Eddie Lacy is off to a nice start with 85 yards on 19 carries including a touchdown.

–QB Aaron Rodgers’ 140.5 passer rating was his highest ever in a season opener.