Packers RB Josh Jacobs off exempt list, will practice full week; game status undecided
GREEN BAY Running back Josh Jacobs will be on the practice field Wednesday and get a full week of work, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday, but his availability for Sunday’s game at the Detroit Lions is “to be determined.” Jacobs came off the commissioner’s exempt list Monday, which had prevented him from practicing or playing since the start of the regular season. While on the exempt list he attended meetings and training sessions at the team facility, and LaFleur said he has been engaged in team work.
The NFL continues its investigation into Jacobs’ case under the league’s personal-conduct policy after he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a domestic incident. The league’s final determination of any discipline remains pending while the team treats him as eligible to practice and play. LaFleur said Jacobs has been training during his time away but has missed the on-field football exposure that comes with practice and games.
LaFleur said it is “possible” Jacobs could play immediately but made no promises. “We feel like he’s in a pretty good spot,” LaFleur added. Green Bay’s rushing attack has struggled this season; the team is averaging 2.9 yards per carry and ranks last in the league at 59.8 rushing yards per game. LaFleur noted the offensive line has not been consistently blocking well and said Jacobs’ four 1,000-yard seasons and four campaigns of double-digit rushing touchdowns give the Packers a proven option who could provide a spark.
On defense, LaFleur said edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is recovering from a torn ACL, will not practice this week. The Packers will host the Carolina Panthers on a short week following the Detroit Lions game, and practices on short weeks are generally not full speed. LaFleur said the staff could take certain steps during the short week to get a player like Parsons primed and ready if he clears medical hurdles, but Parsons has not reached that point yet. Team medical staff will continue the clearance process leading into the short week, and LaFleur said they must clear several hurdles before Parsons can return to practice.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Jacobs’s return to practice removes a major question about Green Bay’s backfield and gives the Packers a veteran with four 1,000-yard seasons and four double-digit touchdown campaigns who could immediately help a unit averaging under 60 rushing yards per game. His impact will depend on how quickly he reacclimates to game-speed reps after six weeks away from on-field work and on whether the NFL’s assessment results in discipline that would affect his availability. Meanwhile, the delayed timeline for Parsons keeps a high-end pass-rush option off the field and limits defensive planning, and the short week after Detroit complicates any accelerated return unless he clears the necessary medical hurdles.