Josh Jacobs’ future in Green Bay is totally up in the air right now, and honestly, it’s a complete mess. The Packers running back is facing multiple misdemeanor charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident at his home back in May. If that wasn’t bad enough, it’s now been revealed there’s apparently a video of the whole thing, which is only going to crank up the pressure on Jacobs. He’s already on the Commissioner’s Exempt List while the legal stuff continues to play out, and it’s a legit question whether he’ll even hit the field at all in 2026. Seriously, all bets are off.
Gutekunst’s Vague Hope for Jacobs
So, with all this chaos, you’d think the team’s general manager would have some crystal-clear answers, right? Not exactly. Brian Gutekunst told reporters Tuesday that he “expects Jacobs to play for the Packers this season.” That’s a bold statement, but it came with zero details. When does “this season” start for Jacobs? Gutekunst gave no indication. And when pressed on whether the team might just release Jacobs? Nope, no answer. He just dodged it, saying he wants to “let the process play out.” The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported Gutekunst’s comments, and honestly, it doesn’t sound like a vote of confidence with any real timeline for a comeback. About that “garage video” the police mentioned? Gutekunst flat-out said they haven’t seen it. Makes you seriously wonder how much the team actually knows, or how much they’re willing to admit.
The Packers’ RB Room Is a Total Wild Card
Okay, so with Jacobs likely out for at least a while, who’s actually going to be pounding the rock for Green Bay? It’s a total crapshoot right now. We’ve got MarShawn Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick, but his career has been slammed by injuries. He’s only played one game since being drafted, logging just six carries for 15 yards and one catch for three yards. Not exactly setting the world on fire, you know? Then there’s Chris Brooks. He’s the most experienced back on the 53-man roster, rocking 82 career carries over 41 contests. He’s stuck with the Packers for two full seasons, meaning he probably has the highest level of trust with the coaching staff. That’s a massive factor in who gets the ball. And get this: they also picked up Kaleb Johnson, a former Pittsburgh Steelers third-round pick, via trade on cutdown day. But his first season was a straight-up disaster, the guy failed to earn any semblance of a role. He’s got less than two weeks to learn a whole new offense, so don’t expect him to be a factor early in the year, plain and simple.
So, for now, if you’re trying to figure out who gets the bulk of the carries, it’s gotta be Brooks and Lloyd. The smart money leans towards Brooks due to his experience and that trust factor, but honestly, it’s probably going to be more of a 50/50 split until one of them truly catches fire and establishes themselves. The next game is going to be a massive test for that running back room. They need someone to step up fast, before this whole Josh Jacobs situation completely derails their season and the Green Bay offense stalls out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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