The Green Bay Packers used a dominant second half to surge past the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8, powered by Josh Jacobs on the ground and a standout 360-yard, three-touchdown performance from Jordan Love.
Now sitting atop the NFC North, Green Bay has turned its attention to a Week 9 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. However, concern spiked among fans when Jacobs unexpectedly appeared on Wednesday’s injury report, putting his availability for Sunday into question.
Will Josh Jacobs Play in Week 9?
Jacobs has been a weekly staple on the injury report throughout the 2025 season, dealing with a medley of issues that have required ongoing management by the Packers’ medical staff. This latest concern is a calf injury that caused him to be limited at Wednesday’s practice, continuing a pattern that has become routine for the veteran running back.
However, Wednesday practices are largely meaningless at this point in the season, particularly for established veterans who don’t require extensive preparation to perform effectively on Sundays. Veterans typically get Wednesdays off or participate in limited capacity as teams manage their workload and prevent unnecessary aggravation of minor injuries.
Jacobs definitely has a calf issue that requires maintenance, but it is likely more preventative care than anything significant. The fact that he was able to participate in practice at all, even in a limited capacity, represents a positive sign for his availability against Carolina.
Head coach Matt LaFleur echoed that optimism, noting that Jacobs felt “pretty good” coming out of the win over Pittsburgh. “In my conversations with him, pretty good,” LaFleur said, per Jason B. Hirschhorn of NFL.com.
LaFleur has been managing Jacobs’ workload carefully throughout recent weeks, acknowledging the calf problem while ensuring his star running back remains available for game action. The team has taken a cautious approach with their featured back, understanding that his long-term health is more important than short-term practice repetitions.
Jacobs has played through multiple injuries this season and has yet to miss a game, demonstrating both his durability and pain tolerance. His track record of availability despite various ailments provides confidence that he will suit up again this week.
Through seven games, Jacobs leads the Packers with 447 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while adding 19 receptions for 191 yards through the air. He enters Week 9 ranked 16th in PFSN’s Running Back Impact metric with a rating of 79.8 and a C+ grade, continuing to play a pivotal role in the Packers’ offensive success.