In the first year with a new team after five seasons with the Raiders, you could expect some issues for Josh Jacobs. There weren't any. The running back has had the second most productive season of his entire career, and has established himself and the Green Bay Packers' most productive offensive weapon.
Quarterback Jordan Love is pretty happy with that. With Jacobs in, they can trust him with a heavy workload. Through 14 games, Jacobs has had 296 touches, while former Packers running back Aaron Jones has never had more than 285 in a season.
"Josh is, I mean, he's a phenomenal player. But I just think his mindset, he's definitely one of those top dogs and one of the best running backs in the league," Love told The Rich Eisen Show last week. "But just the way he runs the ball, he's a guy who wants the ball in his hands every play and just has that mindset that he's not going to let anybody bring him down. He's trying to run guys over, make guys miss, and I really think he can do it all."
Beyond Jacobs' ability to pound the rock down the middle, he's also been an impressive dumpoff target. So far, he's had 31 receptions for 302 receiving yards. Jacobs scored his first career receiving touchdown in 2024.
"He's a great catcher, too, out of the backfield," Love added. "Just his ability to break tackles, make guys miss, and get those extra yards. Somebody that we can just lean on to be able to hand the ball 30 times a game and he's just going to be good after the game."
Too much?
With Aaron Jones, the Packers were always cautious to limit his touches based on his body frame. Josh Jacobs is stronger, which allows him to be more physical and handle more volume.
But that doesn't mean the coaching staff wants to overload the free agent addition. If the Packers beat the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, they clinch a playoff spot. Maybe that will open the door for the team to use more Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks.
"Once we lock it up and have an idea of what's gonna happen, you can kind of plan for that," head coach Matt LaFleur said in his podcast about potentially resting players. "But right now, like I told our team, I really don't think, even when you get to that point, it's still gotta be about your process. I know that's a lot of coach speak, but I truly do believe in that. Focus on the things that are within your control. That's how you approach practice, how you approach the gameplan, how you go out there and execute. Just focusing on trying to get a little bit better each and every day. That will set us up in the long run for the best possible position, if we do get to the playoffs, to have success in the playoffs."
But if the decision is on Jacobs' hands, he's ready to keep pounding the rock without limitations.
"I feel great, no bruises, no nothing right now. So I feel great. If I was battling something right now, I would probably say be precautious, but I feel great," Jacobs said in the locker room on Thursday. "Defenders don't really hit me that hard, I feel like. I pick an choose, too. One thing about playing this long is you know angles, so even if I do get tackled, it's not like I am getting smacked on the tackle."
The Packers couldn't be happier with the decision to sign Josh Jacobs. And he has rewarded them on the field.
