Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has missed back-to-back practices with a knee injury, which stems from him going down against the New York Giants about a month ago. This week, for the first time since his injury, Jacobs is being asked to make a seven-day turnaround between games, a pivotal test of how much wear he’ll have left in his tires going into the last stretch of the season.
Initially, Jacobs’ injury was called a bone bruise. Still, after practice on Thursday, Jacobs stated that
his “knee stiffened” against the Chicago Bears last week, according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. He claims it’s the “same thing” he’s been dealing with for multiple weeks, and that he passed medical scans taken on Monday.
Jacobs said that he’s “taking things day by day” but that he “feels a lot better than [he] did yesterday.” In two seasons with the Packers, Jacobs has only missed one game — the Minnesota Vikings matchup this year, following the Giants game — so chances are that he will end up suiting up for Green Bay this weekend against the Denver Broncos, but keep an eye on this situation going into Friday.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Thursday, before practice, that the plan was for Jacobs not to practice today. He also added that the team could bring up a player from an injury list this week, which includes running back MarShawn Lloyd, who is currently on the injured reserve but has been practicing with the team over the last two weeks.
If Jacobs can’t go, the starter will be Emanuel Wilson, though it’s up in the air whether Lloyd, practice squadder Pierre Strong Jr. or blocking back Chris Brooks will be the team’s secondary ball-carrier versus the Broncos.
