The Green Bay Packers’ running game has become a real problem, and it’s pushing the team into an ugly corner. The ground attack isn’t just struggling - it’s been described as atrocious and borderline non-existent, which is especially damaging if the offense keeps trying to force the run on early downs.
That has left Jordan Love carrying more of the load and, in turn, helped his MVP case because he’s had to throw the ball downfield so often. But there’s no getting around the downside: living in third-and-long is no way to build a steady offense.
Naturally, that kind of situation brings up names like Jonathan Taylor. But according to Packers cap expert Ken Ingalls, the financial reality makes that idea almost impossible.
“Josh Jacobs was never suspended. As such he currently qualifies for 100% termination pay - Meaning if released and he doesn’t sign with another team the Packers will still owe and cap 100% of his $10.2m base salary,” he wrote. “The Packers don’t have enough cap space to trade for Taylor, release Jacobs and pay his termination pay, and get through the rest of the season without restructuring or trading away other contracts.”
Ingalls’ point is simple: if the Packers tried to move on from Jacobs, they’d be taking a major risk. They’d have to release him for conduct detrimental to the team, but an arbitrator could side with Jacobs, which would leave Green Bay responsible for the full salary anyway.
That’s why the Jonathan Taylor path doesn’t really work. His salary is too steep, and the Packers’ cap situation is too tight to absorb that kind of move.
Jacobs’ situation has only added to the noise around the team. He’s dealing with serious accusations, and the Packers sticking with him after he already pleaded no contest in his offseason scandal has drawn plenty of criticism. Even if they were determined to keep him, the way they’ve handled the issue could have sent a different message.
For now, it looks like Green Bay won’t be adding a savior to the backfield before the November 10 trade deadline. The team may instead have to look internally, with Kevin Zeitler possibly finally getting a chance to play, or turn to help on the interior of the offensive line.
In the end, the Packers created this mess with Jacobs. At the time, the gamble made sense. But they also had chances to address the situation before the season began, including moving on from him before he was placed on the Commissioner’s exempt list.
Now the reality is harsh: Green Bay may be stuck paying him, may not get much help from the run game anyway, and won’t be landing one of the league’s most elusive backs.
In Other News...
Packers Under Fire Over Christian Watson Injury Decision
Christian Watsons return to the field Sunday has become one of the more uncomfortable storylines around the Packers, not because of what he did once he was back, but because of how quickly the situation escalated in the first place. The wide receiver was taken to the hospital during the game after a frightening injury episode, and the fact that he was back on the sideline and then back in uniform less than an hour later has put Green Bays medical decision-making under a harsh spotlight.
The scrutiny has only grown because the optics are so hard to ignore, especially for a team already dealing with the kind of questions that can linger long after the final whistle. The Packers say Watson was cleared after medical evaluation, but the episode has still drawn comparisons to other recent NFL health controversies, and it leaves Green Bay with an uneasy conversation about risk, caution and where the line should be when a player wants back in the game. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Right Guard Debate Just Got More Complicated After LaFleurs Defense
The Packers decision at right guard in Week 8 raised a few eyebrows, but Matt LaFleur spent Monday defending both the choice and Laken Tomlinsons performance. With Kevin Zeitler available, Green Bay still went with Tomlinson, and LaFleur pointed to the veterans work in pass protection as a reason the move made sense even if the overall run game never really got going.
What makes the situation more interesting now is that LaFleur stopped short of saying the job is settled for Week 9. He made it clear the Packers need better collective play on the ground, which leaves the right guard spot very much in play and adds another layer to a position battle that already had more questions than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Are Closing In On A Defensive Boost They Need Badly
Micah Parsons is edging closer to a return, and for a Packers defense that could use every bit of help it can get, the timing matters. The star pass rusher has been working his way back from a torn ACL, and Green Bay has been preparing for the possibility that he could rejoin practice this week. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has been planning daily with that return in mind, while coach Matt LaFleur has also signaled optimism that Parsons is nearing the next step.
The Packers are still going to handle this carefully, which makes sense given the severity of the injury and the stakes for a player they expect to lean on heavily. Once Parsons is able to practice, Green Bay can begin the process of moving him off the Physically Unable to Perform list, but the real question is how quickly he can ramp up after such a long layoff. For now, the team appears to be closing in on a defensive boost it has badly needed, even if the final timeline is still being managed day by day. [Read more 🡒]