The main source of the Green Bay Packers’ rushing offense is Josh Jacobs, a free-agent addition from the 2024 offseason. But Green Bay might need a Plan B as of Tuesday after Jacobs was arrested on several domestic violence charges.
It’s not a good look for the Packers or Jacobs, and a cloud will now hang over the organziation indefinitely.
Green Bay’s Backfield Could Need a Fast Contingency Plan
Jacobs Arrested
The news arrived on Tuesday evening, as ESPN reported: “Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs was arrested Tuesday and booked on several domestic violence charges, according to the Hobart-Lawrence (Wisconsin) Police Department. Jacobs, 28, was booked on charges of battery (domestic abuse, criminal damage to property), domestic abuse, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation) and intimidation of a victim.”
“According to Brown County jail records, the strangulation and suffocation charge is a felony, and the other four charges are misdemeanors. According to the records, Jacobs was being held without bond. The Hobart-Lawrence PD was dispatched to the alleged disturbance involving Jacobs on Saturday.”
This mugshot circulated via TMZ:
Jacobs’s lawyers quickly delivered their message: “Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public. We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course.”
Parallels to Stefon Diggs
Sadly, Jacobs’s alleged crimes sound eerily familiar to Diggs’s earlier this year. The former Viking was accused of strangling his personal chef, went to trial in Massachusetts, and beat the allegations in what felt like record-setting time for the American justice system. Diggs was found not guilty and is now free to resume his NFL career as early as now.
Jacobs has a similar path ahead, though it’s unclear whether he’ll receive a swift legal outcome like Diggs. The process is just starting.
Regardless of Diggs’s acquittal, the optics — two guys accused of the same thing — are not good for the sport.
The Packers’ Football Options at RB
Speaking of the sport, the Packers are in a pickle. What will Green Bay have to replace if Jacobs’s legal woes bleed into the regular season? Oh, just 2,882 yards from scrimmage in the last two years and 30 touchdowns. That’s Jacobs’s stat line since 2024, making him an absolutely instrumental figure in Matt LaFleur’s offense.
Here’s the Packers’ full RB depth chart, including Jacobs:
- Josh Jacobs
- Chris Brooks
- MarShawn Lloyd
- Pierre Strong
- Damien Martinez
- Jaden Nixon
Green Bay lost 2024 RB2 Emanuel Wilson to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason.
If Jacobs misses games due to suspension, the Packers would likely turn to Brooks and Lloyd for shared RB1 duties.
FanstayLife‘s Joe Metz observed Tuesday on Lloyd as a replacement, “Lloyd did have some promise coming into the NFL, as he was a steady riser during the pre-draft process who tested well at the NFL Combine, ending up as a third-round pick. In his final collegiate season, Lloyd ranked top-10 in the nation in yards per carry, elusive rush rate and breakaway rush percentage among all RBs with at least 50 rush attempts.”
“Lloyd feels like the clear upside bet in this backfield, but feels nearly impossible to trust. If anything, I feel like it’s far more likely the Packers bring someone in that isn’t currently on the roster if Jacobs ends up missing any time.”
External Candidates
As with all summers, the Packers would have options via trade if needed. A list of trade targets might look like this:
- Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals)
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Washington Commanders)
- Jonathon Brooks (Carolina Panthers)
- Isaac Guerendo (San Francisco 49ers)
- Chuba Hubbard (Carolina Panthers)
- Kaleb Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings)
- Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints)
- Jaleen McLaughlin (Denver Broncos)
- Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans)
- Tyjae Spears (Tennessee Titans)
- Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins)
USA Today‘s Nick Brinkerhoff noted Wednesday on Pollard as an option, “The Titans are trying to surround Cam Ward with weapons, not subtract them. It makes a trade involving Pollard feel unlikely, but his contract situation could come into play. He has one year left on his current contract and Tennessee does have somewhat of a youth movement in the backfield.”
“Whether the Titans are confident enough in Tyjae Spears and Nicholas Singleton to trade Pollard remains to be seen. If nothing else, this is a move that could be explored around the trade deadline if the need remains for Green Bay.”
From free agency, this list is tiny — and old:
- Nick Chubb
- Austin Ekeler
- Najee Harris
- Kareem Hunt
- Joe Mixon
Green Bay has 15 weeks to figure out a contingency plan. Incidentally, that’s when the Packers play the Vikings to open the regular season at U.S. Bank Stadium.
