It was a busy day for the Packers on Wednesday, as the team tries to bounce quickly back from Sunday’s dominant defensive performance against the Vikings to take on the Lions, a must-win game if Green Bay wants to give itself a top-level chance to win the NFC North. The Packers come in at 7-3-1, and are 2-0 in the division, while the Lions are 7-4.
The Packers made one decision on the offensive side, opting to keep receiver Jayden Reed out for another week as he returns from collar-bone and foot injuries. When they put out their injury report on Wednesday, it was clear they’d made another, too: They were ready to get running back Josh Jacobs back on the field.
Jacobs was not on Wednesday’s injury report, which means he is good to go for the Lions.
Josh Jacobs In Need of Consistency
Jacobs had hurt his knee in Week 11 against the Giants. He wanted badly to play in Week 12, but the team held him back and Jacobs vowed he would return on Thanksgiving. He’s followed through on that.
Last year, Jacobs proved to be a shrewd addition by the Packers’ front office, as he went for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus another 342 yards as a receiver. This year, Jacobs is running behind a reconfigured and oft-injured offensive line, and the result have been rough at times. Jacobs has not had a 100-yard game this season and is on pace for a much more modest 1,037 yards on the year.
Jacobs definitely needs consistency and momentum to be effective. The Packers are hoping he gets more of that down the season’s stretch run.
As offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Jacobs, “It takes a little time in the run game to just get things going and the more opportunities you get the more momentum you can build. When you’re able to give Josh (Jacobs) the ball that many times, he’s going to start popping some and he’s going to wear people out.”
Packers Could Use Emanuel Wilson More With Josh Jacobs
With Jacobs out against the Vikings, RB2 Emanuel Wilson stepped up with 28 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers like to use Wilson as a change-of-pace back, but there is a case to be made for him to get more carries–he had just 53 coming into Week 12. Wilson for one said he’d like that chance.
âItâll be crazy,â Wilson said of a one-two punch with Jacobs. âWhen Josh comes back, when he gets going I will try to match his energy. Today,  I just tried to do that. ⦠I just went out there and did my job. The guys believe in me so I tried to make every opportunity count for them.â
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