Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs was limited in practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. What happened to Jacobs, and will he be able to play in Week 14 when the Packers face the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football? Here’s the latest on the running back’s status.
What Is Josh Jacobs’ Injury?
Jacobs was listed on the Packers’ injury report with a calf injury, which explains why he was limited in practice this week.
With that said, it seems like a minor injury, and Jacobs’ limited availability during the practice sessions likely has more to do with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur trying to rest his star running back on a short week.
“He does a great job communicating with us where he’s at,” LaFleur said of Jacobs. “I trust him in terms of if he needs more, he’ll let us know and if he needs less, he’ll also let us know. But we are mindful of just how many reps he’s getting throughout the course of the week.”
Over the last three weeks, Jacobs has totaled 63 carries (second-most in the league in Weeks 11-13) while also catching eight passes. Only Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley received more carries over that span, with 75.
“They be getting on me because they be wanting me to take less reps,” Jacobs explained. “But I think it’s important for the guys to see me work. I think it’s important to get the reps, so I practice.”
Is Jacobs Playing in Week 14?
Jacobs will play in Week 14, and he doesn’t even have an injury designation for the Packers’ Week 14 game against the Lions.
“I feel great,” Jacobs confirmed.
When asked about his huge workload, Jacobs said it’s something he’s used to by now.
“I think for me it’s just what I’m used to. I’ve been doing it for so long,” he said. “I feel like the running back room in general, we kind of set the tone for the team. Each day, regardless of it’s practice or a game, we try to come out and do that.”
To Jacobs’ point, he has averaged 17.9 carries per game throughout the course of his six-year NFL career.
This season, he has rushed 221 times for 987 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. He has also added 27 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown through the air.
Jacobs’ Fantasy Outlook
Jacobs has now recorded three straight games with at least 22 touches and a score as a part of an offense that is seemingly hitting its stride at the right time.
We have plenty of evidence that Jacobs can pound between the tackles, so seeing him produce out in space is great for his ceiling projection the rest of the way. On Thanksgiving, he took a dump-off pass and turned it into a season-high 49-yard gain thanks to a single hard cut that left the linebacker stumbling.
Jacobs hasn’t recorded a 20-yard run in three straight games, but that impact hasn’t been felt by fantasy managers due to his 132 receiving yards over that stretch.
He piled up 108 yards on 15 touches against this strong Lions defense back in Week 9, and this could be another game where Jacobs is busy from start to finish.