The Packers are in a holding pattern with Josh Jacobs, and the next move could shape how long their star running back is out.
Jacobs, who broke his ring finger on Sunday, Nov. 8, against the New England Patriots, is scheduled to have surgery later this week. From there, Green Bay will have to decide whether to keep him on the active roster or place him on injured reserve.
ESPN’s Ian Rapoport reported that Jacobs “could return as quickly as 2-3 weeks,” which puts the Packers in a tricky spot with a bye coming after their game against the Minnesota Vikings. Green Bay “will decide” on Saturday, Nov. 14, whether an IR stint is needed.
That decision matters because injured reserve would sideline Jacobs for four weeks, and the Packers would rather avoid that if they can. If they hold off, the hope is that he misses only the Vikings game and then the Los Angeles Rams game on Thanksgiving Eve.
That Rams matchup is set for Wednesday, Nov. 25, so Green Bay doesn’t exactly get a normal recovery window anyway. The league’s shifting schedule has left the Packers without the kind of break that could make this easier.
Head coach Matt LaFleur stayed quiet about the situation on Monday, Nov. 9, and for good reason. If the Packers misread the timeline, they could burn a roster spot or keep Jacobs sidelined longer than necessary.
Even if he hasn’t been an All-Pro since coming off the Exempt List, Jacobs still matters to this offense. For now, though, he’s already ruled out for Sunday, Nov. 15, against Minnesota.
That leaves Green Bay leaning on the running backs behind him, with Kaleb Johnson carrying a big load in a game that means plenty. The Vikings beat the Packers in Week 1, and this NFC North matchup carries major weight as Green Bay waits to see whether Jacobs ends up on IR or back in the mix sooner than expected.
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