The Packers’ offense is suddenly staring at a much tougher path, and it points straight to Jordan Love.
Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list because of his legal turmoil, and there’s no timeline for how long he’ll be out. That pushes Green Bay into a shaky running back situation, with the injury-prone MarShawn Lloyd next in line, followed by Chris Brooks and recently acquired Kaleb Johnson. That group does not inspire much confidence.
Add in the issues already sitting in the middle of the offensive line, and head coach Matt LaFleur may be left with only one real option: lean on Love and let the quarterback carry more of the load.
LaFleur has long wanted to keep the run game at the center of what Green Bay does. The Packers have often run the ball close to 50 percent of the time, sometimes even when that approach feels forced. But the roster he has now may not support that kind of balance.
Love has the kind of arm that can change the shape of an offense. He’s a true gunslinger, and while LaFleur has often kept things conservative, that hasn’t always brought out the best in him. The safer approach can limit mistakes, but it also keeps Green Bay from fully using what Love does best.
There will be off-target throws and questionable choices along the way, but Love has grown in that area. He has gotten better at making decisions and protecting the ball, though that improvement may also reflect the way LaFleur has called games.
Even so, the Packers’ interior line remains a concern. Both guard spots could be unsettled during the season, and center is still not a sure thing. Last year, the unit had trouble opening running lanes even with Jacobs in the backfield.
Now the Packers are looking at an injury-prone option and a couple of replacement-level backs, which makes a strong ground game hard to picture. By design or by necessity, this offense may have to go through its quarterback.
And Love has the tools to handle it. He’s especially dangerous when throwing into tight windows, particularly down the field, and he has never been shy about attacking.
Green Bay already gave him some control in the preseason, including the ability to call plays on offense. That kind of trust should carry over into more freedom at the line of scrimmage and more responsibility in running the show.
With the run game suddenly in flux, Love may be asked to do more than ever. Whether LaFleur is ready to give him that long leash is the real question, but the situation may leave him no choice.
In Other News...
Packers Quietly Added A Week 1 Name Fans Should Not Overlook
The Packers spent the final stretch before roster cutdown making the kind of moves that can shape the first month of a season just as much as the headlines from August. One of the quieter changes was the trade of backup quarterback Kyle McCord to Miami for a 2028 sixth-round pick, but the more relevant additions for Green Bay came on the field: veteran tight end Jonnu Smith, running back Kaleb Johnson and tight end Mark Redman all arrived with a chance to matter early.
Johnson is the name that stands out because the Packers may need him sooner than expected with Josh Jacobs still on the commissioner-exempt list. Redman is more of a developmental piece, still waiting for his first regular-season snap, but the depth chart now has a different look than it did a week ago. For a team trying to thread the needle between immediate help and longer-term value, these are the kinds of late roster additions that can quietly end up carrying real weight. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Jacobs Update Could Change The Packers Opener Decision
Josh Jacobs legal situation has taken on added significance for the Packers because the calendar has moved up. His initial court appearance, originally set for Nov. 17, has been rescheduled for Sept. 10, a date that arrives much sooner and could force the issue while Green Bay is still trying to map out its early-season backfield plans. Jacobs is dealing with two misdemeanor charges, battery and criminal damage to property, and he remains on the NFL Commissioners Exempt List as the league continues its investigation.
For the Packers, the timing matters almost as much as the case itself. An earlier hearing creates a chance for the NFL to have more clarity before any long-range roster or playing-time decisions need to be locked in, including whatever the team is thinking about for the opener. The situation is still fluid, but the shift in court date could change the pace of everything around it, from the leagues discipline timeline to Green Bays planning for one of its most important offensive pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Finally Confront A Matthew Golden Problem Fans Saw Early
Brian Gutekunst did not spend much time dancing around the issue when he discussed Matthew Goldens rookie season. The Packers general manager acknowledged the wide receiver was underused, saying Golden simply did not get as many opportunities as he should have after drawing only 44 targets and finishing with 361 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Golden did show more impact late in the season, and Gutekunst pointed to a strong training camp as another reason for optimism heading into this year. For a player Green Bay clearly believes can do more, the real question is whether the offense will finally make good on that early promise and give him a larger role when it matters. [Read more 🡒]