Josh Jacobs’ groin injury has put the Packers in a spot they’d rather not be in this close to the 2026 season.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said Jacobs will be out “at least this week,” leaving Green Bay to sort through a running back group that suddenly looks thin behind its top option. The concern isn’t just about missing one player for a short stretch - it’s about what happens if the issue carries into the regular season.
Jacobs is the engine of that backfield. Last season, he ran for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns and added 36 catches for 282 yards and another score. He’s the clear lead back, and Green Bay’s offense is built with that in mind.
The problem is what comes next. Behind Jacobs, the Packers are relying on MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and Pierre Strong Jr., and there isn’t much proven production in that group.
Lloyd was a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but injuries have limited him to just one game in his career. He has talent, but his availability remains part of the conversation.
Strong, meanwhile, brings very little recent rushing experience, with his last NFL carries coming in 2024 with the Cleveland Browns, when he had 26 attempts for 108 yards.
If Jacobs has to miss meaningful time, Green Bay may have no choice but to lean more heavily on the passing game. That’s not necessarily a bad fallback with Jordan Love coming off a strong season. Love completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he looked especially sharp when LaFleur pushed the pace as a play caller.
For now, though, the Packers are waiting on their most important runner to get healthy.
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Up front, the most eye-catching line came on the offensive line, where Anthony Belton was listed first at right guard, adding another layer to a spot that has felt unsettled. On the other side of the ball, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks were placed ahead of Javon Hargrave on the defensive line, an early marker in a competition that figures to draw plenty of attention before the preseason games begin. For a Packers roster built with several jobs still up for grabs, the first chart does not settle anything, but it does put a few veterans and newcomers squarely on notice. [Read more 🡒]