Aaron Jones’ first big moment in the NFL included a confidence-building interaction with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

In a recent interview on Bleacher Report’s “Stick to Football” podcast, Jones recalled what Rodgers told him as he entered the huddle for the first time in a regular season game last season.

“My first game in against Chicago, Jamaal (Williams) and Ty (Montgomery) went down, and I run into the huddle, and he’s like, ‘I want you to know, I’m probably one of your biggest fans in this organization, so if you want to make a statement, now is your time,'” Jones said. “He told me that and I was pretty pumped up. I mean, any time a quarterback like that tells you something like that, it does a lot for your confidence.”

Jones made his statement, rushing 13 times for 49 yards and his first career touchdown in a 35-14 win over the Bears. The performance earned him a start at running back the next week and he took the opportunity and ran with it, ripping off 125 yards and another score in the Packers’ come-from-behind win over the Cowboys in Dallas.

Once again, Rodgers was there to inject some confidence into his talented young running back.

“I told him before the game, I have absolutely zero worries about him back there,” Rodgers said after the victory in Dallas. “He’s a talented guy. I’m really proud of him. Big step today for him.”

Two weeks later, in the first game without Rodgers, Jones produced an opening-drive touchdown and a career-high 131 rushing yards, but the Packers were unable to hold on and beat the visiting New Orleans Saints. And right when Jones appeared to be breaking out as one of the NFL’s top offensive rookies, a pair of MCL sprains put the clamps on his rapid ascension. He still finished with 448 rushing yards and four scores on just 81 carries.

Rodgers will return in 2018 and Jones’ knees are healthy, a product of an offseason focused on getting stronger and better protected in the lower body. The duo could be dynamic in the Packers backfield with Rodgers’ brilliance at quarterback strengthened by the big-play ability of Jones.

The talent is obviously all there for Jones, who averaged 5.5 yards per carry and produced six runs of 20 or more yards in 2017. A subtle spark of confidence from Rodgers, right when Jones needed it the most, might have helped light the fire of his breakout rookie season.