The Green Bay Packers are still waiting on Josh Jacobs, and that wait has left their running game searching for answers after four weeks.
There’s no firm timetable for Jacobs’ return, and that uncertainty hangs over a rushing attack that has yet to really get going. Green Bay did make a small roster move this week, though, bringing back a familiar face and adding depth at running back before Sunday’s meeting with the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field.
“LB Kristian Welch is back on the Packers roster with Edgerrin Cooper going to IR. Also RB Damon Bankston is back on the practice squad,” Rob Demovsky wrote on his update on X (formerly Twitter).
Bankston, an undrafted rookie from New Mexico, first entered the league as a 23-year-old with the New York Giants before eventually landing in Green Bay. At New Mexico, he put up 635 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and he also caught 31 passes for 397 yards and three scores.
This is Bankston’s second go-round with the Packers. Green Bay signed him to the practice squad on September 9, but that first stay lasted just 20 days. After only one week away, he was back on the practice squad Tuesday.
Jacobs, meanwhile, has missed all four games while staying on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, and there’s still no clear return date. He is not expected to serve any jail time, but he could still face NFL discipline, including a suspension. The league has also sought access to garage camera footage that reportedly captured part of the incident involving Jacobs and his former girlfriend.
Green Bay showed a little more life on the ground in its 17-14 win over Tampa Bay, finishing with 86 rushing yards on 25 carries. But the overall picture is still bleak.
Through the first three games, the Packers had totaled fewer than 150 rushing yards combined, and they still haven’t punched one in on the ground this season. That streak continued against the Buccaneers, as the offense again came away without a rushing touchdown.
In Other News...
Packers Fans May Need To Reassess MarShawn Lloyd Fast
MarShawn Lloyd has gotten a real look in Green Bay this season, and for stretches he has flashed the kind of versatility that made him an intriguing part of the backfield plan. He has appeared in multiple games, helped as a pass-catcher with nine receptions and a touchdown, and even earned more playing time as injuries and ball-security issues opened the door around him.
The challenge for Lloyd is what has happened when the ball has been in his hands as a runner. His 2.7 yards per carry is the lowest among the Packers running backs, and two recent fumbles have only sharpened the scrutiny. For a team trying to sort out its backfield hierarchy, that leaves Lloyd in a spot where the upside is still visible, but the margin for error feels awfully thin. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Still Searching For Depth At One Spot Fans Are Watching
The Packers kept working the edges of the roster this week with a set of tryouts that underscored how much the front office is still scanning for help. Green Bay looked at linebackers Deion Jones and Chris Paul, along with cornerbacks Cobee Bryant and Dwight McGlothern, in another reminder that the post-cutdown period is as much about staying ready as it is about finding a surprise fit.
With a full 53-man roster and practice squad already in place, any move would require Green Bay to clear space somewhere else, which is why these workouts matter even if nothing follows immediately. The team has been active with visits and tryouts since the deadline passed, and the pattern suggests the Packers are keeping a close eye on a few areas while leaving the door open for a roster shuffle if the right player becomes available. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have One Big Linebacker Decision To Make
Edgerrin Coopers season-ending Achilles injury left the Packers with an immediate opening in the middle of their defense, and it comes at a time when Green Bay has to decide whether to trust what it already has or look outside the building for help. The internal route would keep the answer simple, but the injury also exposes how much the defense was relying on Coopers presence in that spot.
One name worth watching is Matt Milano, a free agent with prior ties to the Packers coaching staff and the kind of background that fits the role Green Bay suddenly needs filled. His recent production has dipped some, but he still brings experience as both a pass rusher and a run defender, which is why he could surface as a real option if the Packers decide they need a more proven solution. [Read more 🡒]