The Green Bay Packers came into Josh Jacobs’ return hoping it would steady an offense that has lacked balance all season. Instead, the early returns have only deepened the concern. Through two games, Jacobs has 75 rushing yards on 32 carries, with a long run of 10 yards, and that 2.3 yards per carry is not the kind of production Green Bay can keep brushing aside.
What makes the situation tougher for the Packers is that the problem is no longer easy to explain away. Jacobs has been on the shelf before these last two weeks, so the usual rust excuse only goes so far.
He has not looked like the same runner who once brought a punishing style to the offense. Right now, he appears a step slow, without the burst to break through first contact and create the kind of plays Green Bay needs.
That has put the Packers in a spot where they have to start looking for other answers. The franchise may need to explore options before this year’s trade deadline, and cutting the struggling Jacobs is now very much on the table. The situation is made even more complicated by the fact that Jacobs has already become a distraction off the field and made headlines this past week for a questionable celebration source.
For Green Bay, the bigger issue is that there does not seem to be an obvious replacement waiting in the wings. If the Packers decide to move on, they would need to find a trade and feel confident enough to turn the page on a player who suddenly looks like he has aged fast.
There were signs of decline a season ago, when Jacobs regressed and no longer seemed to have the same gear for explosive runs. Now the question is whether the punishment of playing running back has caught up with him.
At a position that absorbs so much physical wear, Green Bay can’t keep ignoring what the production is saying. Jacobs is not just underperforming expectations - he is producing at a level the Packers would normally expect from a third- or fourth-string option.
In Other News...
Packers May Face A Backfield Reset They Can't Ignore
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is already drawing attention, and Jordan Schultz has said he expects it to be one of the busier ones around the league. For the Packers, the intrigue centers on Jonathan Taylor, a player who has spent his entire career with the Colts while Indianapolis continues reshaping its roster and moving on from other established names. Green Bays interest makes sense on paper, especially with Taylor carrying a strong off-field reputation and a track record that has kept him among the leagues most recognizable backs.
The timing only adds to the conversation in Green Bay, where the backfield has become a more complicated topic than it looked a year ago. Josh Jacobs has dealt with legal issues tied to domestic dispute allegations, and the Packers are now being linked to a player whose profile is very different from the one they already have in place. If the Colts keep listening and the deadline market heats up as expected, this is the kind of situation that could force Green Bay to decide how aggressive it wants to be about a reset. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Make Their Josh Jacobs Stance Clear Amid Serious Allegations
Josh Jacobs is once again at the center of an NFL review, and the Packers are already making clear they expect him to stay on the roster while the process plays out. The league has expanded its investigation after new allegations surfaced, adding another layer of scrutiny to a player whose recent past already included a six-game absence on the commissioners exempt list following a no contest plea tied to an earlier arrest.
For Green Bay, the immediate football question is less about availability than about how long this situation lingers around the team. Jacobs has already dealt with league discipline once, and the Packers now find themselves waiting on the NFLs next move while the review continues. The teams stance is straightforward for now, but the broader picture remains unsettled as the investigation moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Packers May Have A New Linebacker Problem In The Best Way
The Packers have managed to keep their defense on track even while dealing with injuries at linebacker, and the next stretch could say a lot about how deep that room really is. With Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin sidelined, Isaiah McDuffie and Tyron Hopper have been asked to carry more of the load, and the unit has held up well enough to keep Green Bay from feeling the full weight of those absences.
Hopper, in particular, has started to look like more than a fill-in. His recent impact showed up all over the field, from tackles to disruption in coverage and even splash plays in the backfield, which is the kind of production that can complicate a coachs rotation once everyone is healthy again. Franklin is expected back soon, but if Hopper keeps stacking strong performances, the Packers may have a new kind of linebacker question on their hands. [Read more 🡒]