Josh Jacobs’ status hangs over the Packers, but Brian Gutekunst made it clear the team isn’t treating the backfield like a one-man operation.
The NFL is still deciding whether Jacobs will face a suspension after an alleged domestic violence dispute in May. Nothing has been handed down yet, but discipline remains on the table no matter how the legal process ends. Jacobs has been charged with misdemeanors of battery and criminal property damage, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
For now, he remains the top name on Green Bay’s depth chart and is expected to carry a heavy load. He’s been around for training camp and practicing normally, though a groin issue has limited him some.
Asked about the team’s confidence in its internal options if Jacobs is unavailable, Gutekunst didn’t sound concerned.
"I'm pretty confident we can sustain [a Jacobs suspension]," Gutekunst told reporters. "We'll deal with that when that comes, but we've obviously been preparing in case that happens. At the same time, I feel really good about the guys we got in that room, and I think we could survive that."
A lot of people will hear that and think first of MarShawn Lloyd. The 2024 third-round pick is finally healthy after an injury-filled first two seasons, and he’s the obvious candidate to take on a major role if Jacobs is sidelined.
But Gutekunst’s broader message seemed to reach further down the depth chart, and that’s where Pierre Strong Jr. starts to come into focus.
Strong joined Green Bay’s practice squad early in 2025 after being waived by the Cleveland Browns, then signed back with the Packers on a reserve/future deal in January. He’s made that chance count. In Green Bay’s 33-13 preseason win over the Denver Broncos, Strong broke loose for a 68-yard kick return and also showed plenty as a runner, finishing with 37 yards on eight carries for 4.6 yards per attempt.
The return was the flash play, but the running style mattered too. Pro Football Focus credited Strong with 29 yards after contact, a sign he wasn’t just slipping into open space. He brought some pop and some toughness, and Green Bay may have found a quietly useful piece in the process.
Lloyd is still the likeliest next man up behind Jacobs and has the talent to grow into the job down the line. Still, Strong’s stock is rising fast enough that the Packers may have a real decision to make. At this pace, Gutekunst might have to find a place for the 2022 fourth-round pick on the 53-man roster rather than try to sneak him through waivers.
Gutekunst didn’t shut the door on carrying an extra running back on the final roster, either. He also left open the possibility of promoting someone from the practice squad if needed, noting that Green Bay has used that route before. Strong, for his part, hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2024.
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