The Green Bay Packers’ ground game left a lot to be desired this past season. It was inconsistent, sluggish at times, and far too reliant on Josh Jacobs to carry the load behind an offensive line that struggled to open up lanes. While the line deserves its share of the blame, it’s also clear that the Packers could use another dynamic back - someone with speed and burst who can complement Jacobs’ bruising style.
That’s why a player like J.K. Dobbins made sense as a potential offseason target.
A pending free agent with proven explosiveness, Dobbins would’ve brought a different dimension to Green Bay’s backfield. And given his recent injury history, there was a reasonable chance he’d be available on a team-friendly, short-term deal - exactly the kind of low-risk, high-reward move a cap-conscious team like the Packers could use.
They’re currently working with just $7.8 million in available cap space, per Spotrac.
But if Green Bay was eyeing Dobbins, his recent comments might have shut that door before it even opened.
“It’s been a great time here in my short time (in Denver),” Dobbins said, via NFL.com. “I think I will be here.
Hopefully, I will. I’m a Bronco for life.”
That’s not exactly the sound of a player preparing to pack his bags for Wisconsin.
Dobbins’ desire to stay in Denver throws a wrench into any hypothetical pursuit by the Packers. And it’s a shame, because when healthy - and yes, that’s been a big “if” throughout his career - Dobbins has shown he can be a real difference-maker.
In his limited time with the Broncos, he averaged 5.0 yards per carry, racking up 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns before another injury sidelined him. That kind of production would be a clear upgrade for a Packers backfield that lacked punch behind Jacobs.
Green Bay’s depth at running back is shaky at best. MarShawn Lloyd, a third-round pick in 2024, has played just one game due to injury.
Emanuel Wilson is headed for restricted free agency, but after averaging just 3.7 yards per carry over his last 10 games, there’s no urgency to bring him back. The room needs help - and Dobbins, even with the injury baggage, looked like a cost-effective option with upside.
The Packers have liked Dobbins for a while. They were reportedly high on him during the 2020 draft process, and his career arc - full of promise, derailed by injuries - made him a classic “prove-it” candidate in free agency.
That’s exactly what Denver did last offseason, signing him to a one-year, $2 million deal. It worked - when he was on the field, he produced.
But it appears Green Bay won’t get the chance to make a similar offer this time around.
Head coach Matt LaFleur tried to establish the run in 2025, but the results just weren’t there. The Packers averaged 27 fewer rushing yards per game than they did in 2024, finishing with 119.8 yards per game - 15th in the league.
That’s middle-of-the-pack production for a team that boasts one of the NFL’s top workhorse backs in Jacobs. The problem?
Defenses keyed in on him, stacking the box and daring someone else to beat them. More often than not, no one did.
It’s hard to win consistently when your run game is that one-dimensional. Just look around the division.
Detroit has Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery - speed and power. Chicago rolled with Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift - again, a complementary pairing.
That’s the blueprint. And it’s one Green Bay needs to follow.
The Packers don’t just need depth. They need a legitimate No. 2 option who can take the pressure off Jacobs and give defenses something else to worry about.
Dobbins could’ve been that guy. But with his heart seemingly still in Denver, Green Bay will have to look elsewhere.
The need remains. The fit made sense.
But unless something changes in a hurry, J.K. Dobbins won’t be wearing green and gold in 2026.