Josh Jacobs says Packers running
backs must help out their injury-riddled offensive line
[October 28, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs’
season debut showed that he couldn’t instantly solve all of the
problems with the NFL’s lowest-ranked rushing attack.
Now that he has a game under his belt, Jacobs is confident that he
has shaken off the rust that came from missing the first six games
of the season while on the commissioner’s exempt list. The
three-time Pro Bowl selection says it’s imperative for the running
backs to play more physically as Green Bay adjusts to injuries on
its offensive line.
“Sometimes you’re going to have to break them tackles and you’re
going to have to keep your feet running,” Jacobs said Tuesday.
“You’ve got to give guys the energy and the juice to feel like
you’re carrying it. It could be a bad play. You got a pile and you
push the pile or whatever. That’s stuff that gets guys energized and
ready to go play.”
Jacobs rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries and caught five passes for
55 yards in a 20-17 loss at Detroit that marked his first game since
pleading no contest last month to misdemeanor charges of battery and
criminal damage to property stemming from a May altercation with his
then-girlfriend.
With the Packers driving for a potential go-ahead score on Sunday,
Jacobs couldn’t hang on to a pass in the end zone with the score
tied and about 3 1/2 minutes left.
“I felt like I beat him so early (that) when I saw the ball, I kind
of tried to slow down for the ball, but that’s a play that literally
hit both hands,” Jacobs said. “Whenever it hit any hand, for my
standard, I feel like you’ve got to catch it.”
The Packers (4-3) are counting on Jacobs to boost a running game
that has struggled heading into Thursday night’s game against the
Carolina Panthers (3-3).
Green Bay’s 59.9 yards rushing per game are nearly 15 fewer than
anyone else.
The only other team in the past 35 seasons to average fewer than 60
yards per rushing through its first seven games was the 2019
Cincinnati Bengals with 53.1.
Considering those numbers, it’s remarkable that Green Bay is above
.500. Since 1933, the other 13 teams that averaged below 60 yards
rushing through their seven games went a combined 11-79-1 during
that stretch.
“If we want to be the team we want to be, we’ve definitely got to
improve the run game,” quarterback Jordan Love said.
Carolina could be just what the Packers need.
The Panthers are coming a 43-13 home loss to Tampa Bay in which they
allowed the Buccaneers to rush for 258 yards. Green Bay’s season
rushing total didn’t reach 258 yards until its fifth game of the
season.
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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) is tackled by Detroit
Lions safety Chuck Clark (36) during the first half of an NFL
football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del
Rio)
But an offensive line decimated by injuries could
have trouble creating running room.
Starting center Sean Rhyan (ankle) and backup Jacob Monk
(quadriceps) got hurt against Detroit, with Monk landing on injured
reserve. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said it’s uncertain whether
Rhyan might end up on injured reserve as well.
Green Bay’s center for most of the Lions game was John Williams, who
had never played a single snap on offense in his two-year career
before Sunday.
Right guard Travis Glover has a knee issue that leaves his status
uncertain for Thursday. The Packers already lost right tackle Zach
Bako-Bewele to a season-ending knee injury last month.
All those offensive line injuries could make Jacobs’ job tougher.
He’s ready to pick up the slack by gaining yards after contact.
“We’ve still got to make plays, and that’s a part of it,” Jacobs
said. “Breaking tackles, grinding out those hard yards … turning a
2-yard run into a 4-yard run. That’s things that motivate the guys
and also motivate the play-caller. So that’s something that we’ve
definitely got to do.”
NOTES: LaFleur said LB Zaire Franklin (shin) will miss a second
straight game Thursday. … WR Matthew Golden is on Green Bay’s injury
report with shoulder and foot issues. Although the Packers had a
walk-through Tuesday and didn’t practice Monday, the Packers
estimated that Golden would have been held out each of those days. …
LaFleur was asked about the possibility All-Pro edge rusher Micah
Parsons could return to practice next week as he continues his
recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. “I sure hope so,”
LaFleur said.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
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