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Packers Need a Backup Plan at Running Back Due to Josh Jacobs Uncertainty By GilMartin The Green Bay Packers are now a few weeks away from the start of the 2026 NFL season. They will kick of the new campaign September 13 in Minnesota against the Vikings. One thing that remains uncertain, however, is the status of starting running back Josh Jacobs. The Packers may not have Jacobs available for the full season pending the NFL’s investigation into the alleged domestic violence incident that took place over the offseason. While we don’t know when or even if the league will be taking action against the Packers starting running back, the team certainly must be prepared for any eventuality. Right now, they don’t appear to be adequately prepared if Jacobs isn’t available. As of now, no criminal charges have been leveled against Jacobs after the incident surrounding his arrest. However, even if local authorities never decide to press chargers against him, the NFL will conduct their own investigation and could suspend him based solely on their own findings. The minimum suspension for a domestic violence incident is six games, although the league could make the suspension longer or shorter than that depending on the specific circumstances invovled. We don’t know when the NFL will conclude their investigation. Jacobs could be suspended at any time or not at all, but the Packers have to be prepared for all eventualities. Right now, the Pack seems ill equipped to handle any long-term absence from Jacobs. The primary backup is MarShawn Lloyd. Lloyd gives the Packers a runner with a very different style than Jacobs. The starter is a between-the-tackles runner who makes potential tacklers miss in a phone booth. Lloyd relies more on speed and is a one-cut runner who is a threat to break a long run any time he touches the ball. But Lloyd has struggled to stay healthy and on the field. In his first two NFL campaigns, he played in just one game. Furthermore, even if Lloyd manages to stay healthy, he is not built to be a player who can get 20-25 touches per game. Even in college, the best the 5’9” Lloyd has done is share the load and act as a change-of-pace back. That would leave the Packers with a running back by committee at best. Behind Lloyd on the depth chart is Chris Brooks. Brooks remains on the roster because he’s a smart and steady player. He runs and catches the ball adequately but isn’t viewed as a starting caliber runner. Brooks’ strong point remains his ability to protect the quarterback and pick up stunts and blitzes. He also contributes on special teams. The Packers also have Pierre Strong, Jr., Damien Martinez, and Jaden Nixon on the current roster. None of them have proven they can be NFL starters. In fact, assuming the top three players on the depth chart remain healthy and available, these three are likely fighting for spots on the Green Bay practice squad. One other factor has to be considered when looking at this situation. The Packers do not have a strong run blocking offensive line. Even when Zach Bako-Bewele, who is the team’s best run blocking offensive lineman returns, the Packers offensive line struggles to open holes for the running backs. This further underscores the need for a quality running back who can gain yardage on his own because the holes aren’t necessarily going to be there. How will Packers GM Brian Gutekunst handle this situation? Is he confident enough in the players currently on the roster to head into the regular season with this group, or does he look to trade for a proven back? Gutekunst could also wait until cuts are made after the final preseason game and try to claim a running back off waivers. The current group doesn’t seem to have what it takes to get it done without Jacobs. If the Packers have to play without him for six games at some point this season, they could be in real trouble. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE. __________________________ You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers __________________________ Comments (29) August 22, 2026 at 10:44 am Jacobs’ investigation is ongoing (or we’d know the outcome already). However, there are no reports of third party evidence of any kind. Something could happen legally, but without that even the NFL can’t proceed under its rules having no grounds to suspend. By the time we know for certain, Jacobs could be injured, another RB forcing change sooner or we could still be here in February. There are bigger and more pressing problems at OLB and on the OL and at TE at this point. The issue if whether Strong has legitimately earned a spit through play and kick returns over Brooks’ protection is at least now a credible one, but that’s about it at RB at least at this point. August 22, 2026 at 10:47 am I tuned in late as I didn't think it was showing in my neck of the woods. Jaden Nixon looked legit to me. August 22, 2026 at 12:28 pm I also didn't have game coverage. Did Nixon even play? Sounded like Strong was the best RB of the night and was used the most. August 22, 2026 at 05:08 pm Strong was superb, but Nixon also looked good on a couple of runs -- a short but strong run for a TD, plus a long run right up the middle to set up that TD. In the upcoming preseason game against the Cards, it'll be fun to watch both of these guys to see if they can keep it going. August 22, 2026 at 10:54 am "...the NFL will conduct their own investigation and could suspend him based solely on their own findings. " My understanding is that the NFL has been collecting info on the Jacobs situation (as well as in a couple other cases), but as we know they have yet to act. I think it will come down to whether charges are filed, and--absent that--this will just evaporate. August 22, 2026 at 11:01 am No need to panic . There is a lot of talent in that room . If it comes down to running back by committee there is enough talent to get it done . Lloyd, Brooks , Strong , and perhaps Martinez and or Nixon can grind it enough to be effective enough to win games . August 22, 2026 at 11:30 am I don't know. Where are you going top find another back who can get the yards after contact like Jacobs? And our depth really doesn't look too bad. Of course it would have been ideal to resign Wilson, and i still think letting him go was a mistake given he wasn't that expensive. But that's water under the bridge. If worst comes to worst, maybe we just have to change our style a bit instead of routinely tryng to pound it between the tackles. August 22, 2026 at 11:46 am It appears they already have a back up plan: Lloyd, Strong and Brooks in that order. Concerning Jacobs. The NFL should say out of the courts. And, the courts should stay out of the NFL August 22, 2026 at 12:38 pm Yeah everyone should just bury their heads in the sand. The NFL has a big stake in everything related including everything teams and players do. I would guess the NFL doesn't want to be included in any lawsuits because they just decided to "stay out of the courts" as you say. If Jacobs is exonerated, great, lets move on. He will only be a Packer in 2026 anyway, as they will dump him instead of paying $14 million in 2027. But if he is guilty then he doesn't deserve to be a Green Bay Packer and the team doesn't need the bad publicity of a women beater on the team. August 22, 2026 at 12:05 pm I have said since April they should be looking for to add depth there. Possibly they are happy with what they have but they could be looking around the league to see if a place the the Cardinals drops someone. I don't think the NFL is going to do anything unless criminal charges get brought up local authorities. No priors and from a PR stand point doesn't seem they would want to bring it up again. For RB Jacobs is a little long in the tooth and it would shock me at all if he misses time with nagging injuries. Just the nature of the position at his age. Hopefully there is more tread on those tires but he has carried that ball a lot in his career. August 22, 2026 at 12:15 pm The best answer to the Packers RB issue is an effective OL. If the OL gets people blocked the current RBs can get the job done. 1967, Hornung and Taylor were gone, Elijah Pitts, Jim Brabowski and Donny Anderson were all injured and yet the Packers won their 3rd straight NFL championship and 2nd SB with Travis Williams, Ben Wilson and Chuck Mercein as their RBs. Why? Because they ran behind Lombardi's OL which is probably the GOAT offensive line. Even Jacobs availability becomes irrelevant if the OL doesn't block effectively when he gets the ball. The Packers have three weeks to figure it out and no excuses if they don't. As for the NFL suspending Jacobs I don't see what evidence they can come up with that the police have been unable to find. You can't suspend a player for domestic violence without evidence of the domestic violence. That would be wrong but it is not unusual for the league to be wrong since Goodell has been commissioner. Bottom line Jacobs should be available for the Packers. Thanks, Since '61 August 22, 2026 at 12:28 pm Great point, most thought Mercein and Wilson were done, Mercein played sparingly one more season as a backup and Wilson started in the Super Bowl which turned out to be his last NFL game. In the same vein, Jacobs, Wilson, and Brooks average per gain each dropped considerably which had to be a reflection on last seasons offensive line play. August 22, 2026 at 12:40 pm "The best answer to the Packers RB issue is an effective OL. If the OL gets people blocked the current RBs can get the job done." Yeah 61, it would be a lot easier to find another RB option than it is to fix what is ailing our OL. Getting hit 2 yards behind the LOS will make any RB look bad. That said there are options to trade for a RB. Trey Benson-Cardinals has been mentioned alot. He has been hurt almost as much as Lloyd has been. He is bigger and also very fast, maybe a change of scenery, for a 7th round pick. Kaleb Johnson-Steelers might also be a cut/trade candidate. He had a great senior year at Iowa and was a 3rd round pick as well. The answer might already be in GB. Strong has looked great and had a big game against the Broncos. Martinez was the only RB to have success against the Steelers. He is alot like Jacobs. Jaden Nixon looks over his head and will be cut. August 22, 2026 at 01:09 pm Strong made a convincing argument that he’s currently the second best pure runner last night. Lloyd still looks to need to settle. He is stuttering around behind the line and his vision needs to improve. I’d have no issue if Strong had to start and we manage to keep him., August 22, 2026 at 12:45 pm My takeaways from checking updates on my phone: I think Strong and Melton will help this year and fit nicely with Coach LaF's vision: He preaches "waking up with your piss hot". Well, "P STRONG" and "Bo MELTON" seem to have bought in. Now, if Coach LaF can't be a leader of men in the playoffs (if they earn that right)... well, we be in trouble and Coach LaF, I hope "urine" the right state of mind to handle the accountability hopefully being required of you with the millions you make and the self destruction of last year. This is a new season, so we got that to hang our helmets on. XXXOOOs, Pantz P. Burp August 22, 2026 at 12:54 pm Maybe this could be a move TE option for GB to replace Musgrave. "Philadelphia Eagles have made a major roster change by waiving wide receiver Johnny Wilson with an injury designation ahead of their preseason game against the New England Patriots." Now this is a WR/TE acquisition I could get behind. Johnny Wilson is an athletic freak and I would take him over Luke Musgrave any day of the week. Johnny Wilson stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 235–245 pounds, with a wingspan of 36 inches and 10¼ inch hands, giving him an elite catch radius. He has a 35.5-inch vertical jump, a 10’5” broad jump, and has been clocked at over 21 MPH in-game speed, demonstrating rare combination of size, speed, and explosiveness. In high school, he ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, highlighting his deep-threat potential. Free agent pickup, minimum salary. This guy had one of the highest blocking rating I have ever seen on NFL DRAFT BUZZ. I think he could become a really solid TE and we need them. August 22, 2026 at 01:18 pm He was waived injured. Having missed last year with ankle and knee injuries, he’s now got another knee problem. They gave up on him for health reasons. Without getting to whether we could make TE out of him, his health seems like a bad bet at this point. He was supposedly having a good camp prior to that. The Eagles refer to him as 228 pounds though. At 6’7 that’s not really a TE build. August 22, 2026 at 01:07 pm Had they kept Jones they would have had one. August 22, 2026 at 02:11 pm Looks like this article was written before last night's game. Pierre Strong is mentioned only in passing. I'm not worried about the RB position. August 22, 2026 at 05:01 pm Strong was drafted in the 4th round, Lloyd in the 3rd round. At the risk of sounding simplistic, they shouldn't be that far apart as far as talent coming into the NFL. I get that we shouldn't get too excited about Strong's strong performance last night, but he sure did look good. I'm allowing myself to get a little excited. It would seem as though Strong would get at least a medium splash in the post-game analysis. My overall point is that it seems we can get almost as excited about Strong as about Lloyd. Both are unproven. Both would seem to have potential. Wouldn't it be great if both were ready to step up this season as key contributors? In this day and age of the NFL, it seems necessary to have three or four running backs who can do the job in real games throughout the grind of a very long season. If Strong is qualified as a pass protector, he seems to have a good opportunity to challenge Brooks for a spot on the 53. (Also, he might be more likely to be claimed by another team than Brooks if he's left off the original roster.) August 22, 2026 at 03:55 pm I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Packers definitely have a back-up plan. Running back, whatever. They have a plan that extends beyond the coming season, they have a plan for the coming season, they have contingencies for everything. 3-year plans, 5-year plans, draft plans that anticipate early entry players, draft-plans in case of injuries, draft plans that are based on existing contracts. This is an intentional organization. Everything you can think of to be concerned about they already thought through. Including the salary cap. You can just settle in and enjoy the product on the field.