After missing Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, Green Bay Packers starting running back Josh Jacobs will return to the field on Thursday, at least in limited looks. Jacobs suffered a knee contusion against the New York Giants on Sunday, knocking him out of the game after the team’s second drive. In his pre-practice press conference on Thursday, head coach Matt LaFleur said that Jacobs would practice later today, but that how much he would do on Thursday was still being decided on.
At a minimum,
Jacobs would be participating in individual drills today, though, per LaFleur. Wednesday was not a fully-padded practice for the Packers, so today might be the team’s most intensive practice of the week leading up to Sunday’s action.
Something to remember here: Green Bay will have a short turnaround after this week, as they play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Almost certainly, that will play a factor in the equation, too.
Interestingly, though, the Packers didn’t work out any extra running backs this week or open the 21-day practice window for MarShawn Lloyd, who is currently on the injured reserve. Green Bay generally carries three running backs on the 48-man gameday roster, but only Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks are healthy on the 53-man roster.
If Jacobs doesn’t go against the Minnesota Vikings this week, the team must be confident in the ability that practice squad running back Pierre Strong Jr. has shown. That’s especially true considering that Brooks has mostly been limited to a blocking back role in his two years in Green Bay.
