Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur left the door open for running back Josh Jacobs to play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12, doing so while also taking a shot at the New York Giants and their home, MetLife Stadium.
Jacobs exited early in the second quarter of Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Giants with a knee injury that he appeared to suffer in the first quarter when safety Jevon Holland knocked him out of bounds at the end of a 15-yard run and he landed on his left knee.
While Jacobs remained in the game and took several more carries on the Packers’ next two drives, he eventually came out of the game with 13:54 left in the first half and did not return for the remainder of the game, leaving Emanuel Wilson to take over for him.
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, additional tests on Jacobs’ knee revealed Monday that he has sustained no structural damage. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur even said that Jacobs could “potentially” play against the Vikings in next Sunday’s game, though he also fired a shot at MetLife Stadium’s controversial artificial turf over the injury.
“Potentially, we’ll see where he’s at,” LaFleur said Monday about Jacobs’ availability in Week 12. “It’s a contusion, so it’s just more or less trying to get the swelling down. Unfortunately, that’s a pretty hard surface over there, and this is a byproduct of that.”
Josh Jacobs’ Injury Reignites MetLife Stadium Gripes
Jacobs seems to have avoided a significant knee injury despite missing more than half of Sunday’s win over the Giants, but his hard landing on the turf at MetLife Stadium has reignited debate about the notorious field surface in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Back in September, Giants fans fiercely criticized the artificial turf at MetLife Stadium after superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Nabers had tried to go up to make a leaping reception, but his right knee appeared to buckle before he jumped, causing him to crumple onto the field with evident knee pain.
According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Giants are planning to convert their field to natural grass before MetLife Stadium hosts the 2026 World Cup final next July, but that does little immediate good for the NFL players who must compete there in 2025.
The Giants have three more regular-season home games in 2025 versus the Washington Commanders (Week 15), Vikings (Week 16) and Dallas Cowboys (Week 18).
Will Emanuel Wilson Lead Packers Against Vikings?
LaFleur made it clear that Jacobs will have a chance to play against the Vikings if the swelling in his knee reduces enough for them to clear him to play on Sunday. Even if he is cleared, though, Wilson could once again handle a big share of the carries on offense.
Wilson took 11 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown and caught a 9-yard reception in relief of Jacobs against the Giants on Sunday, providing enough of a rushing presence to help the Packers rally in the second half and snap their two-game losing skid. He is also averaging more than 4 yards per carry on the season as the Packers’ No. 2 back.
While Jacobs is the powerhouse of the backfield, the Packers may strive to strike a more even balance between him and Wilson in terms of carries while his knee heals. After all, Green Bay has its sights set on the division crown and contending for a Super Bowl, and Jacobs will be a critical part of that effort — particularly if they reach the NFL playoffs.
The Packers (6-3-1) will host the Vikings (4-6) at Lambeau Field at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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