The Green Bay Packers seem to be getting on track after a downward turn in Weeks 3 and 4. Coming out of the bye, they put together a complete performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, who had just brought in former Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco to be their new starting quarterback. Winning 27-18, it never seemed like the Packers were in danger in that game.
Going against an Arizona Cardinals team that has lost its last four games and seems to be in a downward spiral, with quarterback Kyler Murray potentially out with an injury, another victory should be easy for Green Bay, giving them momentum heading into their first game against Aaron Rodgers since he left the franchise in 2023. But in what could potentially be a trap game, there is a very real possibility that they are without their starting running back, Josh Jacobs.
Josh Jacobs Injury Update
A first-round pick for the then-Oakland Raiders, Josh Jacobs had an incredible career in the AFC West before moving to the Green Bay Packers last year. Since arriving, he has become a critical part of the offense, while helping Jordan Love come into his own as an NFL quarterback.
A three-time Pro Bowler, he has built his reputation as one of the most dependable players in the entire league out of the backfield. Last year, he tallied 1,329 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, while serving as a pass-catching threat as well with 342 receiving yards.
This year, though, he’s had a slow start. Even though he’s already up to 359 rushing yards, six touchdowns, and 176 receiving yards, his value has come from his availability rather than efficiency.
He’s averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry through the first six weeks of the season. But his production has allowed him to climb to 10th on PFSN’s RB Impact. As a result, any setback for him would be a major blow for the Packers, especially coming off his best game of the year against the Bengals, when he had 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
After that game, he was added to the injury report with an illness, which limited his participation in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Even though he was a full participant on Friday, an additional calf injury designation was added to his injury report.
Officially, he has been listed as questionable for the game, with the Packers elevating Pierre Strong Jr. off the practice squad. ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that Jacobs is a true game-time decision for Week 7.
“Jacobs, listed as questionable for Sunday due to illness and a calf injury, is now being considered a ‘true game-time decision’ for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Cardinals, per source,” Schefter posted.
“The team says it does not expect to know whether he can play until Sunday. If Jacobs is unable to play, Packers RB Emanuel Wilson would be the expected starter.”
Packers fans and fantasy managers should keep an eye on the inactive list an hour-and-a-half before Sunday’s game, as it seems Jacobs’ availability will come down to how he feels prior to kickoff.
Jacobs’ Fantasy Outlook
Here’s what PFSN’s Kyle Soppe wrote about Jacobs’ fantasy outlook for Week 7:
There are running backs in the league, heck, within this division with a higher weekly ceiling than Josh Jacobs, but when it comes to knowing what you’re signing up for weekly, few elite options offer a more narrow range of outcomes than Green Bay’s RB1.
Jacobs has 20-26 touches in every game this season and has scored 22 times in 22 games with the Packers. Everything this offense wants to do is centered around No. 8, and he paid off that single-digit number by looking awfully fluid in space as a pass catcher as he hauled in 4+ passes with a 25+ yard gain for the third consecutive game.
In an era of specialists and committees, Jacobs is going to bring his lunchpail to work every week and give you exactly what you’re expecting. I’d expect more of the same this weekend against a Cardinals defense that has already allowed north of 23 PPR points to running backs in this mold (Christian McCaffrey in Week 3 and Taylor over the weekend).