The NFL season is in full swing. As happens every year, injuries are rearing their ugly heads. As fantasy football managers prepare to set Week 12 lineups, it’s important to stay informed on the latest injury news. Josh Jacobs missed some practice time this week due to injury. What is his current status and outlook for this week?
Is Josh Jacobs Playing Week 12?
Update:Â Jacobs is INACTIVE
Jacobs was ruled out in the first half of last Sunday’s game after suffering a left knee injury on the MetLife Stadium turf. He initially went to the sideline and was checked out in the medical tent before briefly returning to action. However, the veteran running back was unable to continue and exited for good after jamming his knee into the notorious MetLife playing surface.​
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted that “Jacobs returned briefly after jamming his knee into the MetLife turf before leaving for good” and noted “there’s optimism he’ll be back soon”. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Rob Demovsky also reported the injury is not believed to be season-ending.​
Testing conducted Monday revealed Jacobs is not dealing with any structural damage to his knee. He banged it last week and was unable to bend it for a couple of days. X-rays showed Jacobs’ knee is generally stable and intact.​
Jacobs did not practice on Wednesday. However, he was able to return as a limited participant on Thursday and remained limited again on Friday. The Packers listed him as questionable on Friday’s final injury report.​
This is going to be a gametime decision. Jacobs told reporters Thursday that the swelling in his knee has already diminished by about 50 to 60 percent, and he’s waiting for his full mobility to be restored. “When you impact any area of your knee and it swells, it becomes difficult to bend,” Jacobs explained. “I could endure the pain, but I couldn’t execute the movements properly”.​
It is feeling much better and he thinks he will be able to play. Even if he doesn’t, Jacobs does not expect to miss more than one week, and fantasy managers should believe him. “Worst case if I don’t play this week, Thursday I’m definitely playing,” Jacobs said. “It’s not like something that’ll linger over past that. That’s really the worst-case scenario”.​
The question is whether he misses this one week. Under normal circumstances, it sounds as if Jacobs would play. However, the Packers play on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, creating a short week. This makes it plausible the Packers exercise caution with their star runner, knowing he would only have three days to recover before facing Detroit.​
Jacobs acknowledged the short turnaround is a consideration in his decision-making process. “Should I play and risk aggravating the injury and increasing the swelling, which could lead to missing the following week? Or should I rest and prepare for Thursday?” Jacobs said. “That’s been on my mind more as the game approaches”.​
Head coach Matt LaFleur said Friday before practice that “we’re just gonna see what he can do” and noted that Jacobs was “feeling pretty good”. LaFleur emphasized it’s a “collective decision always” that involves medical clearance, Jacobs’ level of confidence, and team discussions.​
On Saturday, the Packers elevated Pierre Strong from the practice squad. They typically roll with three active backs on game day. With Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks healthy, Strong would not be needed unless the team was planning on Jacobs being out. The signs currently point to Jacobs sitting this one out.
Jacobs’ Fantasy Football Outlook
Jacobs was effective on his first seven carries over the weekend against the Giants (40 yards), but a knee injury removed him from the game and he was never able to return.
Green Bay’s RB1 has yet to miss a game since being acquired and has missed a total of 10 games in his six-plus professional seasons. Given the nature of the playoff race in the NFC, the Packers don’t exactly have much room for error and with the bye well behind them, they are very motivated to be aggressive here.
MORE:Â Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Wilson (11-yard touchdown on Sunday after Jacobs departed) is the speculative add to make. The Packers play on Thanksgiving after this week, giving them a mini bye ahead of a favorable spot in Week 14 against the Bears at Lambeau.
The hope is that this isn’t a serious injury and that you’ll have your top-10 RB back before long. Wilson would serve as the lead back, but this offense would likely lean into Jordan Love more than ask the backup to assume the role Jacobs has filled.
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst
