The Green Bay Packers pulled out a win against the New England Patriots, but that victory came at a brutal cost: star running back Josh Jacobs is set to undergo surgery on a broken finger. This isn’t just a minor ding. Jacobs suffered the injury early in their Week 9 matchup and never made it back onto the field. Now, the biggest question isn’t how they won, but how long they’ll survive without their lead back.
The Clock Is Ticking: Jacobs Out Up to Three Weeks
This isn’t good, folks. According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Jacobs is heading for surgery this week, and he could be sidelined for up to three weeks. Zenitz reports, “Packers standout running back Josh Jacobs is set to undergo surgery on his injured finger this week and is expected to miss a maximum of three weeks, sources tell @CBSSports.” Three weeks might not sound like forever, but for a team trying to find its footing, it’s a huge chunk of the season. And let’s be real, his absence creates a massive hole.
Packers’ Run Game Was Already in Trouble
Here’s the kicker: this news hits an already struggling unit. Even with Jacobs in the backfield, the Packers’ run game and their running back room have been, to put it mildly, incredibly disappointing. Jacobs has been far and away the best running back on that team in 2026. Without him, who steps up? Marshawn Lloyd was already out for Week 9, which meant Kaleb Johnson and Pierre Strong Jr. had to carry the load in Jacobs’ initial absence. Now, this potential three-week stretch without their top guy, combined with the existing struggles, presents an incredibly interesting, and frankly, worrying, question for the Packers.
Trade Deadline Looms, and the Packers Have to Act
This couldn’t have come at a worse time. The NFL trade deadline is just one day after this report dropped. Think about it: your best running back is out, your run game is already a mess, and you have literally hours to make a move. The Packers have to consider acquiring another running back. Sure, a big name like Jonathan Taylor might be unrealistic, but the source explicitly states that “this Packers team looks incredible, and an elite running game would make this offense seem unstoppable.” An unstoppable offense sounds pretty good, right? Jacobs’ potential three-week layoff absolutely forces the Packers to seriously look at the trade market to solidify their backfield. What they do in the next 24 hours could define their season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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