The Packers’ running back picture is getting crowded, and Josh Jacobs’ offseason arrest is the reason everything feels unsettled.
Green Bay is still waiting to hear whether the NFL will hand down any punishment, and that outcome could shape how the team approaches its 2026 backfield. For now, the Packers may be staring at a decision that pushes them toward carrying four running backs on the 53-man roster.
Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd look like the safest bets to be on the team. Chris Brooks has also earned his place in the conversation after standing out on third downs, and Pierre Strong has made his case with what he brings on special teams. That combination could be enough to convince Green Bay that keeping all four is the best move, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
“Even if Josh Jacobs' legal issues don't lead to a suspension by the NFL, the Packers might want to keep four running backs because Pierre Strong Jr. could be their best option as a kickoff returner,” Demovsky wrote. “He ripped off a 68-yard return in the first half and showed he can handle some carries, too.”
“He rushed for 37 yards on eight carries (a 4.6-yard average), including gains of 12 and 7 yards on consecutive plays,” he continued. “Behind Jacobs, the Packers will keep MarShawn Lloyd, and they like Chris Brooks as a third-down back because of his pass blocking. If Jacobs gets formally charged and/or suspended before the opener, they will almost certainly keep Strong.
If Jacobs does end up suspended, Strong’s path to the roster gets even clearer. Even without that, his value on special teams and as extra depth already gives him a real edge.
Lloyd would be the next man up if Jacobs misses time, but he has only six carries for 15 yards at the NFL level. That leaves Green Bay wanting to make sure the room is built with enough insurance.
Until there’s a final ruling on Jacobs, the situation hangs over the Packers’ backfield. In the meantime, they may be loading up at running back.
In Other News...
Jordan Loves Preseason Debut May Have Revealed A Bigger Packers Shift
Jordan Loves lone series in the preseason win over the Broncos offered just enough of a look to get people talking again about where the Packers offense is headed. He finished 5 of 7 for 56 yards and a touchdown, and the drive itself was handled in a pretty straightforward way, with the ball moving quickly and the pocket shifting often. For a quarterback who signed a four-year deal with Green Bay in 2024 and has already built a sizable body of work as a starter, the snaps mattered less for the stat line than for the feel of what the Packers were asking him to do.
The simple setup may have been the bigger clue. Analysts came away pointing to an offense that looked trimmed down and built around moving pockets, a look that can tell you as much about the line as it does about the quarterback. Whether that becomes a preseason wrinkle or something closer to the regular-season identity is still the part worth watching, because the protection plan in front of Love could end up shaping much more than one August series. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Have A Shot At A Young RB Worth Watching
The Packers have a chance to take a look at a young running back who once looked like an intriguing piece of the Cardinals backfield. Trey Benson was waived/injured by Arizona, putting him on the waiver wire for any team willing to claim him, and Green Bay sits 20th in waiver priority as the process plays out. Before anyone can bring him in, though, Benson has to clear waivers and pass a physical.
Benson has been working back from a knee injury and has not taken part in the preseason, which naturally leaves some uncertainty around his condition. For a Packers team always attentive to young talent at running back, hes the kind of name worth monitoring, but the medical side of this situation will determine whether the opportunity becomes anything more than a glance. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Camp Tempers Flare As Injury Concerns And Roster Fights Build
Training camp has a way of sharpening everything, and the Packers saw that on display in a practice session that turned chippy in a hurry. There were multiple altercations between players, including Matthew Golden and Barryn Sorrell, along with Will Sheppard and Trey Dean III, a reminder that roster spots and practice reps are being fought over as Green Bay keeps sorting through its early-August pecking order.
The tension comes as the team is still managing a run of injury issues, with several players on the PUP list or sidelined after a recent game. Meanwhile, the offensive and defensive lineups remain in flux as coaches rotate players through key spots ahead of joint practice and the preseason games, leaving plenty still unresolved even as camp intensity keeps rising. [Read more 🡒]