Green Bay has not been subtle about the confidence building around its roster, and Keisean Nixon made that point loud and clear with Josh Jacobs on the verge of coming back.
The Packers are expected to have Jacobs available in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions after the league announced Monday, October 19, that he would be removed from the NFL's commissioners' exempt list. His absence has left Green Bay searching for a steady run game, and the results have been rough: the Packers are averaging just 60.4 rushing yards per game through their first five contests, the worst mark in the NFL.
Nixon didn’t sound like a player trying to temper expectations. He sounded like someone convinced the picture is about to change fast.
“It's a different team now,” Nixon said, according to Matt Schneidman.
“Think they was scared of us then? We'll see what happen when 8 get back and then 1 come back.”
The No. 8 reference points to Jacobs, whose season opened on the exempt list following an offseason legal incident. His return should give quarterback Jordan Love and the offense a much-needed lift, especially with the ground game struggling to get any traction.
Nixon’s “1” appears to be a nod to Micah Parsons, who is still working back from a serious knee injury and has not made his season debut. Green Bay has been tracking his recovery while trying to stay in the fight.
If both players are eventually back in the fold, Nixon’s message is simple: the Packers think they’re not close to their final form yet.
In Other News...
Packers Suddenly Have A Backfield Question Fans Didn't Expect
Green Bays 23-13 win over Dallas brought plenty of encouraging signs, from Matthew Goldens impact in the passing game to a secondary that helped keep the Cowboys in check. Jordan Loves offense moved efficiently enough despite a few drops, and Matt LaFleurs plan drew positive notice as the Packers continued to show a more balanced feel on that side of the ball.
The one unexpected wrinkle came in the backfield, where MarShawn Lloyd never found much rhythm and Pierre Strong Jr. ended up handling the bulk of the work early. For a team that left Week 6 feeling good about several key pieces, the running game suddenly looks like the place where Green Bay has to sort out who it wants carrying the load going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Offense Still Looks Broken After Another Brutal Loss
Dallas looked stuck in neutral again at Lambeau Field, where the Packers turned a promising afternoon into another rough result for a Cowboys offense still searching for answers. Green Bays defense bothered Dak Prescott throughout the day, and the game tilted quickly as the Packers built a lead that put Dallas in chase mode before halftime. Jordan Love did enough to keep Green Bay in control, throwing for 276 yards and accounting for two touchdowns as the Packers moved to 4-2.
The bigger concern for Dallas was how familiar the script felt, with the offense failing to find rhythm and the defense unable to keep the game within reach. Green Bays interceptions of Prescott were part of the damage, and the Packers never really let the Cowboys settle into anything comfortable on either side of the ball. For a team that came into the day at 2-3, the loss leaves another lingering question about how much better this offense can get before the standings start to harden around it. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Gannon Is Already Changing The Feel Of This Packers Defense
Six weeks into the season, Jonathan Gannon has already given Green Bays defense a noticeably different edge. The former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator has helped steady a unit that looks much more disruptive and organized than it did a year ago, with several players stepping up around him and making the group more competitive on a weekly basis.
The results have shown up even with key names missing from the lineup, which makes the early turnaround stand out even more. Green Bay has found a way to stay productive and force mistakes while waiting for pieces to get healthy, and the question now is how much higher this defense can climb once the full group is available again. [Read more 🡒]