Jones says Packers’ bye week helped him recover

GREEN BAY, WIS.>> Aaron Jones was on his way to scoring his second touchdown in the Green Bay Packers’ season- opening victory at Chicago when he clutched his left hamstring before crossing the goal line.

Jones’ season — and the Packers’ offense — haven’t been the same since. He’s hoping that changes Sunday in Denver.

The 28-year- old Jones has missed three of Green Bay’s past four games because of that hamstring issue

ithout their most proven playmaker, the young Packers offense has struggled.

“It can be hard on yourself, not playing when you want to play, not having that effect you want to have,” Jones said. “Especially coming into this year, I felt like I was just heating up, especially Week 1, it was like, ‘Aww, man it’s going to be a long year for these guys lining up across from me.’”

Instead, it’s been a long wait for Jones to get back to full strength. But Jones says he recovered during Green Bay’s bye week and feels as well as he has since before the injury.

He’s optimistic about playing Sunday when the Packers (2-3) visit the Broncos (1-5).

“Anytime you get those extra added days with rest, it’s huge,” said Jones, who practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. “I was able to stay here with our training staff to get right. It gave me some confidence going into this week..”

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COLTS QB RICHARDSON TO HAVE SURGERY>>

Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson has taken the final snap of his rookie season, opting to have season-ending surgery on his injured throwing shoulder.

Coach Shane Steichen confirmed the decision before Wednesday’s practice.

Steichen said the team consulted multiple medical officials, weighed the long-term health of Richardson and his future with the franchise before everyone agreed surgery was the best option.

JETS TRADING HARDMAN BACK TO CHIEFS>>

The New York Jets are trading seldom-used wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Jets also are sending a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft to the Chiefs and getting a sixth-rounder that year in return, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams had not announced the trade, which was first reported by ESPN.

DOLPHINS CB RAMSEY RETURNS TO PRACTICE>>

The Miami Dolphins defense will get a boost soon with the return of All-pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Ramsey, whom the Dolphins acquired in an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Rams, practiced Wednesday for the first time since suffering a knee injury early in training camp.

Coach Mike Mcdaniel said Ramsey will not take the field when Miami faces Philadelphia on Sunday night as the team eases him back into action.

BROWNS’ WATSON CAN’T PUT TIMELINE ON RETURN>>

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson still can’t practice with a bruised rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, an injury that has kept him out of two games and potentially more.

The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback confirmed Wednesday he’s dealing with a “tricky” injury to his right shoulder and said it’s impossible to gauge when he’ll be back on the field.

“I mean it can be any day,” Watson said. “I can’t put a timeline on anything right now.”