The Green Bay Packers have spent most of the offseason preparing for September. They may also have been preparing to play without Josh Jacobs.
General manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday that Green Bay has discussed the possibility of an NFL suspension for Jacobs. The Packers have been preparing in case that happens.
Gutekunst also said he feels good about the running backs already on the roster. However, he did not rule out adding another player if needed.
The NFL has not announced a suspension. Jacobs also has not been formally charged following his May arrest and has denied the allegations against him. For now, the Packers are preparing for a possibility rather than an actual suspension.
Still, Green Bay cannot afford to be caught off guard.
Jacobs has been the center of the Packers’ running game since joining the team. Losing him for any amount of time would force Matt LaFleur to adjust his approach on offense. The good news is Green Bay has several options if that happens.
MarShawn Lloyd Would Finally Get His Opportunity
There may not be another player on the Packers roster with a wider gap between his potential and his NFL résumé than MarShawn Lloyd. Green Bay drafted Lloyd in the third round in 2024 because of his explosiveness. Injuries have prevented him from showing much of it.
Lloyd has remained healthy this offseason and has worked his way into a significant role throughout training camp. With Jacobs sidelined against Denver, Lloyd handled most of the snaps with Green Bay’s starting offense. He also caught an 11-yard touchdown from Jordan Love on the opening drive.
The rushing numbers themselves have hardly been spectacular. Lloyd has carried 10 times for 30 yards through Green Bay’s first two preseason games. However, preseason statistics matter much less than where the Packers have been using him. They are giving him opportunities with the starters.
Lloyd brings a different element than Jacobs. He has the burst to create explosive plays and enough receiving ability to become dangerous when LaFleur gets him into space.
The problem is that Green Bay has never had to depend on him. There is a major difference between looking explosive in August and carrying the football 15 times against Minnesota in Week 1.
If Jacobs misses time, the Packers could quickly find out whether Lloyd is finally ready for the role they envisioned when they drafted him.
Chris Brooks Gives Green Bay the Safer Option
If Lloyd represents upside, Chris Brooks represents stability. Brooks is not going to replace Jacobs as the focal point of the offense. He does not need to. What he gives Green Bay is a player the coaching staff already trusts.
Brooks has appeared in 32 regular-season games during his two years with the Packers. He has rushed for 289 yards on 63 carries while also catching 24 passes for 160 yards.
Those numbers will not generate much excitement, but Brooks has carved out a role by doing the little things. He can run between the tackles. He can catch the football. Most importantly, he understands the offense and can be trusted in pass protection.
That could become extremely important without Jacobs.
Rather than asking Lloyd to suddenly handle an enormous workload, LaFleur could divide the job. Lloyd could receive the majority of the early-down opportunities and touches designed to get him in space, while Brooks handles some of the more physical work and passing-down responsibilities.
A Committee May Make More Sense Than Naming a New Starter
The biggest mistake the Packers could make would be trying to find a one-for-one replacement for Jacobs. There probably isn’t one.
Jacobs can handle 20 carries, catch passes, pass protect, and wear down a defense late in games. That combination is exactly why Green Bay built so much of its offense around him.
Without Jacobs, LaFleur may need to become more creative. Lloyd and Brooks could form the foundation of the backfield, while Damien Martinez gives Green Bay another physical option if he survives roster cuts.
Martinez has rushed 13 times for 37 yards through two preseason games. At 6-foot and 217 pounds, he also gives the Packers another bigger back who could potentially handle some of the work Jacobs normally receives between the tackles.
Green Bay has also carried Pierre Strong Jr. throughout camp, although his roster spot remains less certain with final cuts approaching. One recent roster projection had Strong on the outside of the 53-man roster but as a potential practice-squad option.
That depth gives Gutekunst some flexibility. A backfield consisting of Lloyd, Brooks and Martinez would not have a proven workhorse, but it would give LaFleur different skill sets to work with. That may be the most realistic solution.
The Packers Could Wait for the Roster-Cut Market
Then there is the Gutekunst option. Wait.
NFL rosters must still be trimmed to 53 players, which means the available talent pool is about to look much different. Every year, useful veterans and younger backs become available around final cuts. Green Bay does not need to force a move before knowing whether Jacobs will actually miss games.
Gutekunst essentially acknowledged as much Wednesday. He expressed confidence in the current group while leaving open the possibility of making another move if necessary. If Jacobs receives a short suspension, Green Bay may be comfortable surviving with Lloyd and Brooks.
If the absence becomes more substantial, the calculation changes.
Veteran Kareem Hunt remains available and recently visited the Detroit Lions. Hunt rushed for 611 yards and eight touchdowns for Kansas City last season and would immediately give Green Bay an experienced option capable of handling meaningful carries. More names will almost certainly hit the market as teams make their final cuts.
The Packers could also work the waiver wire or explore a low-cost trade once they know which running backs around the league are available. There is little reason to make that move prematurely.
Packers Cannot Replace Jacobs, But Can Survive Without Him
There is an important distinction between replacing Josh Jacobs and surviving without him. The Packers probably cannot replace him. That does not mean their offense suddenly falls apart.
This is ultimately why Green Bay drafted Lloyd. At some point, the Packers need to determine whether his talent translates into production. Brooks has already shown he can handle a complementary role, while the rest of the roster gives LaFleur enough depth to build a committee.
Gutekunst can always add another veteran if necessary. The bigger adjustment may fall on Jordan Love and the passing game.
Without Jacobs controlling games on the ground, Green Bay may have to lean harder on Love, Tucker Kraft and its collection of receivers. LaFleur could also use more motion, screens and short passes as extensions of the running game rather than asking one inexperienced back to absorb Jacobs’ entire workload. None of those options are ideal.
Jacobs is one of Green Bay’s most important offensive players for a reason. But the Packers have known for months that this situation could eventually become something they had to address.
Now, with the regular season approaching, their contingency plan is beginning to come into focus. If Jacobs is available, nothing changes. If he isn’t, MarShawn Lloyd may finally get his chance to prove exactly why the Packers have remained so patient with him.
