The Packers’ preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals has taken on a bigger edge now that Green Bay’s running back picture comes with real uncertainty.
Josh Jacobs’ situation has shifted the conversation at the position. After being charged with a pair of misdemeanors tied to his May arrest on domestic violence allegations, the Packers have to consider what happens if he is suspended at any point during the season. That possibility makes the team’s depth behind him far more than a routine August evaluation.
That’s why Friday night matters for the backs trying to make their case. The final preseason game gives Green Bay a chance to sort out who can handle a larger role if Jacobs is unavailable.
At PackersWire, Zach Kruse pointed to Pierre Strong as one of the players with the most on the line.
“Josh Jacobs has been formally charged following his May arrest,” Kruse writes at PackersWire. “Strong looks locked in as the team’s fourth running back behind Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks, but it’s possible he makes more sense as a practice squad option who can be called up when needed to start the season. Strong has real NFL experience and has looked the part this preseason, so a big performance on Friday night could convince the Packers he’s not worth risking on waivers.”
A strong outing from Strong could do more than just help him keep his place on the roster. It could also ease the pressure on Green Bay to search for a back who gets cut in the next few days, since Strong might already be able to supply meaningful snaps and carries if the Packers need him.
In Other News...
Jordan Love Called This Cardinals Practice Moment His Lowest Point
A joint practice with the Cardinals gave the Packers a useful tune-up, but it also left Jordan Love with one sequence he would rather forget. After getting down to the five-yard line, Green Bay came away empty on that series, and Love pointed to it as the low point of the day. For a quarterback and offense still sharpening timing in August, those are the kinds of snaps that tend to linger longer than the cleaner ones.
Tucker Kraft also came out of the session with a moment worth monitoring, taking a late hit after returning from a torn ACL. The good news for Green Bay is that Kraft said he is playing without concern for his knee, a reassuring note as the Packers turn from practice to their preseason game against Arizona. For a team trying to build momentum while protecting key pieces, the next few days will matter just as much as the work already put in. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Could Find Late Roster Help From A Familiar Dolphins Connection
Matt LaFleur has spent plenty of this offseason watching familiar faces head for Miami, with former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley taking over as the Dolphins head coach and ex-Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan moving in as general manager. The shuffle has created an unlikely Green Bay-Miami bridge at a time when the Packers are still sorting out the back end of their roster, and that kind of connection can matter when teams start looking for last-minute help before the cutdown deadline.
Two Dolphins names to keep an eye on are Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Jaylen Wright, both of whom could fit the Packers search for depth in spots where competition is still unsettled. Green Bay does not need splashy moves this time of year as much as it needs practical ones, and a familiar pipeline to Miami could give the front office another route to fill out the roster if the right opportunity opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Pass Rush Already Has A Roster Question Fans Cant Ignore
The Packers pass rush already looks like one of the more interesting roster debates of the summer, and it has little to do with September opener talk. Micah Parsons is still working back from a torn ACL, which leaves Green Bay with a clear need for edge help, and the rest of the group still has work to do before anyone can call the spot settled. That creates a familiar late-summer opportunity: if a young pass rusher shakes loose after final roster cuts, the Packers could be right in the mix.
Chris Braswell of the Buccaneers is one name to watch if he becomes available, and he fits the kind of waiver claim Green Bay would have reason to explore. The Packers do not need another reminder that pass rush depth matters over a long season, especially with Parsons unavailable and the competition behind him still sorting itself out. For now, the question is less about one opening-day role and more about whether Green Bay can find a usable answer before the market closes. [Read more 🡒]