Jacobs Proves He Can Carry Packers Running Game
When the Green Bay Packers signed running back Josh Jacobs in free agency, many fans weren’t sure what to expect of the position. Within 24 hours of Jacobs agreeing to terms with the Packers, longtime running back Aaron Jones was both released and then signed by the rival Minnesota Vikings. The moves marked a change in direction for the Packers with their running back position.
In two of the three games when the Packers did not have starting quarterback Jordan Love, they were able to rely on Jacobs, a workhorse-type running back. Jacobs had his two lone 100-yard games in the two wins over Indianapolis and Jacksonville. He also had his first multi-touchdown game in the green and gold, highlighted by his 38-yard run to daylight in the third quarter.
JOSH JACOBS SECOND TOUCHDOWN OF THE DAY! WATCH HIM GO!! pic.twitter.com/ROXmD3jFAD
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 27, 2024
It was the kind of run, Packers fans had been accustomed to seeing in the previous running back, the guy who wears No. 33 in Minnesota now.
Josh Jacobs sent this man into the shadow realm 🥶 pic.twitter.com/1f6hE9RAyG
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) October 28, 2024
Heading into this Sunday’s division clash with the Detroit Lions, Jacobs is tied for the league lead in carries with 145 and also ranks 4th in the league in rushing yards with 667. The current leader in both categories is Baltimore’s Derrick Henry with 145 carries for 946 yards.
Currently, Jacobs is on pace for 308 carries, 1,417 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. How would those numbers stack up to previous lead running backs for the Packers?
Going back to 1997, the Packers have had four different running backs finish with more than 270 rushes in a season. Jacobs is on pace to be the 5th.
With the Raiders, Jacobs has done it twice with a 2020 season of 273 rushes for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns; and in 2022 he led the league with 340 rushes and 1,653 yards to go with 12 more touchdowns.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs currently leads the league in carries and is on pace for his 3rd season of more than 270 carries. pic.twitter.com/lmE3GUjHRR
— MMcLaugh (@McLaughlinMitch) October 29, 2024
The previous Packers running backs to break the 270 carry mark are: Dorsey Levens in 1997 and 1999; Ahman Green in 2001, 2002 and 2003; Ryan Grant in 2008 and 2009; and Eddie Lacy in 2013.
Aaron Jones led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2019 on just 236 carries, still a career high for Jones.
Throwback to when Aaron Jones called the division against the Vikings in 2019 🤩 pic.twitter.com/XaNqRBP8EN
— Packers_Network (@PackersNetwork_) August 13, 2023
Since 1960, the Packers have only had three players lead the league in rushes, rushing yards or rushing touchdowns in a season; Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor and Jones.
Currently the Packers are 4th in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,255 yards, which would be the team’s highest finish since 2003. In that 2003 season Ahman Green ran over 100 yards a whopping 11 times in 18 games, and had a franchise-record 218 yard performance in a Week 17 win over the Denver Broncos. In 2003, the Packers finished third in the NFL in rushing yards with 2,558 yards.
With 98 days left until The Green Bay Packers kickoff.
Who remembers arguably the Best RB in Packers history?
If not here’s a 98 yard Ahman Green 🏠 ☎️ …pic.twitter.com/4LRkKtMFG1— RELAX (@itssRELAX) June 4, 2023
Having a question mark at quarterback going into this weekend’s game against the Lions, it might be wise for the Packers to once again lean on Jacobs and the rest of the Packers running game to give it its best chance in this critical NFC North showdown.
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (12)
stockholder
October 29, 2024 at 06:57 pm
I believed he could, when Gute signed him.
The problem was pissing on Jones.
Instead of a great running tandem.
We got a revolving door behind him.
Oh and that draft pick used to replace Jones.
Just another player who will get cut.
But I still will praise Gute for signing Jacobs.
Bitternotsour
October 29, 2024 at 07:34 pm
You don't know enough about Jones to know whether he appreciates being pissed on. You make a lot of assumptions Stock.
TXCHEESE
October 30, 2024 at 01:41 pm
You know the NFL has a salary cap right? Can't pay 'em all.
What impressed me about Jacobs on Sunday was doing that in the heat and humidity.
joejetson
October 29, 2024 at 07:50 pm
Jacobs is the real deal.
Fast, powerful, elusive, great instincts and vision, and he can catch the ball.
Also, still young enough to be able to take the hits and punishment NFL RB's absorb on a weekly basis.
Loved Aaron Jones, but he's on the wrong side of 30, when most RB's hit the wall. He's getting dinged up already for Minnesota only halfway through the season.
The backups for GB, Wilson and Brooks, have done good things as well.
There's also a talented young guy, Marshawn Lloyd, waiting in the wings. He's going to surprise someone this year. GB will spring him on the league with fresh, young legs midway through the season when the defenses are getting kind of beat up and sore. He'll add a different element to the offense with his exceptional speed.
It will be fun to watch. Especially if Love's hamstring and ankle problems limit him or cause him to miss any games.
They may have to lean heavily on the running game.
The Packers are in excellent shape in the RB room.
pantz_bURp
October 29, 2024 at 08:25 pm
Josh Jacobs Jingleheimer Schmidt,
His name is my name too.
Whenever we go out,
The people always shout,
There goes Josh Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
Your not so secret admirer,
Faded "Josh" Pantz
Leatherhead
October 29, 2024 at 08:47 pm
Didn't he lead the league in rushing just a year or two before we got him?
Coldworld
October 29, 2024 at 11:58 pm
He had a down year last year and people worried about his mileage despite his youth. It was often claimed that they got better at RB after he got hurt. I think there was some validity to the question, but personally, he pretty soon convinced me that was a bad situation, a late start post hold out and a team in a mess.
He's looked good throughout this season. He’s made the second most yards after contact and broken the 4th most tackles and still managed to put up over 4.5 per attempt. Hard yards gained without much help. Many thought Jacobs couldn’t make yards out of nothing like Jones did. He has, if not quite in the same way.
Very different player, but certainly not a step down in value thus far by and I don’t know why it took last week for that to be evident to some. I hope the leg issue was merely transitory and he’s fully healthy on Sunday. RB, despite the injury to Lloyd and loss of Dillon is much deeper now than many expected and one of our strengths in fact.
aric00043
October 30, 2024 at 05:09 am
It's impressive to see how Jacobs has stepped up to carry the Packers' running game effectively. His ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact has been crucial for the team's offensive strategy. This kind of performance not only boosts the team's confidence but also takes pressure off the passing game, creating more balanced play. As a student, I often feel the same pressure when it comes to balancing my academic responsibilities. That's where resources like global assignment help come into play, allowing us to focus on our strengths while managing the workload more efficiently. Keep up the great work, Jacobs!
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coolhand
October 30, 2024 at 01:37 pm
Jacobs was a beast on Sunday. That move he made at the line on his long TD run was so sick. and he carried a tackler for 5 yards before 2 more Jags brought him down on another run.
What I am really wondering about is the fact the Vikes have played 7 games and Jones isn't hurt and out yet. What is up with that?
Bitternotsour
October 30, 2024 at 01:52 pm
he missed a game I'm pretty sure
coolhand
October 30, 2024 at 02:25 pm
Actually Bitter, he did get banged up and left a game early with a hip injury, but the next week was their bye and he came back the following week so he hasn't missed a start yet.
Leatherhead
October 31, 2024 at 11:49 am
In the 20-30 loss to the Rams, Jones got 21 touches for 95 yards.
On the season, he's had 126 touches for almost 6 yards/touch. 126 touches/7 games is 18 touches a game....he isn't broken yet, and at 18 touches a game he might stay healthy enough for most games.
Jacobs is an excellent one-cut runner. He doesn't dance or shake...he just makes that cut and accelerates.