BREAKING: Packers Get Murky Josh Jacobs Injury Update Ahead of Cardinals Game
The Green Bay Packers enter Week 7 with a 3-1-1 record with a road game against the Arizona Cardinals.
While the Packers were hoping that wide receiver Christian Watson would make his season debut this weekend, he was ruled out on Friday as he waits at least another week to make his return from a torn ACL.
Entering the weekend, the Packers also had a big injury question about running back Josh Jacobs.
Jacobs was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report with a calf injury and an illness, and Adam Schefter of ESPN dropped an update late Saturday night.
“Packers RB Josh Jacobs, listed as questionable for Sunday due to illness and a calf injury, is now being considered a “true game-time decision” for Sunday’s matchup vs. the Cardinals, per source. The team says it does not expect to know whether he can play until Sunday. If Jacobs is unable to play, Packers RB Emanuel Wilson would be the expected starter,” Schefter wrote on X.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also reported a similar statement shortly after Schefter.
“Packers standout RB Josh Jacobs, dealing with an illness and a calf strain, is up in the air regarding his status on Sunday, per me and
If Jcobs can’t go, it looks to be Emanuel Wilson who will start. Wilson has just 18 carries for 84 yards this season.
Josh Jacobs Played Sick In Week 6
In Week 6, the Packers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-18. In that game, Jacobs had 18 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
To make it even more impressive, Jacobs admitted he was sick during the game and was throwing up.
“Throwing up during the game, after,” Jacobs said, via Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. “I really don’t know where it came from. I just kind of woke up this morning just not feeling my best. But I told ’em, the last time that I felt that way, I had 130 (yards) and two touchdowns. So it is what it is.”
Yet, he was able to be efficient despite the illness.
Packers Made a RB Move on Saturday
Jacobs did practice fully on Friday, but the latest reports from Schefter and Rapoport cast some doubt on whether or not he will suit up.
To put that even more into question, the Packers elevated running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad earlier on Saturday.
While it could be nothing, bringing up another running back one day before the game is an interesting move, especially given Jacobs’ injury and illness.
This season, Jacobs has 359 yards with six touchdowns on 98 carries, and he is the only Packers RB with more than 100 yards, so not having him available would be a tough blow.
The Packers and Cardinals kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
BREAKING: Lions Blockbuster Trade Pitch Nets Detroit 2 Star Edge Rushers
The Detroit Lions profile as among the most likely teams to pursue a pass rusher ahead of the NFL trade deadline, and there’s reason to think they may even take a look at adding a couple of them.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN authored a handful of trades that “make sense” on Thursday, October 16. Two of those deals involved Detroit and a big move for a big presence off the edge.
The first proposal would see the Lions send the Cincinnati Bengals a second-round pick in return for defensive end Trey Hendrickson and a fourth-round selection in what Barnwell referred to as the team’s “all-in move.”
“The Lions have one superstar up front in Aidan Hutchinson, but they’ve never really landed that second one,” Barnwell wrote. “Furthermore, the Lions are dealing with a secondary that’s already battered by injuries. Free agent addition D.J. Reed (hamstring) is on injured reserve, while Terrion Arnold narrowly avoided a multi-month shoulder injury.”
“One way to help that secondary is to have a more efficient pass rush, especially without needing to blitz.”
Lions Could Find Solid Value in Trade for Jaelan Phillips
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Barnwell then immediately jumped into his next proposal, which would see the Lions send the Miami Dolphins a fourth-round pick in return for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and a seventh-rounder.
“I’m arguing that the Lions should go all-in. This team experienced what it was like to lose Hutchinson and virtually every one of its other ambulatory pass rushers last season,” Barnwell continued. “Its secondary is battling injuries. No team has ever made it into January and complained that it had too many pass rushers.”
Phillips’ biggest issue is his history of serious injuries, including an ACL and an Achilles tendon. However, when healthy, he has generally been an above-average performer off the edge.
“His 14.5% pressure rate and 6.8% quick pressure rate, both per Next Gen Stats, are well above league average for edge rushers with 100 or more snaps this season,” Barnwell noted. “Phillips’ average pressure comes after just 2.6 seconds, the seventh-fastest rate among that cohort.”
Lions Could Keep Trey Hendrickson Longterm, Jaelan Phillips Through Playoff Run
GettyDetroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
The Lions have a little over $25 million in salary cap space, so they can afford to take a big swing or two. And Detroit doesn’t necessarily need to commit to both players beyond this season.
Hendrickson would make more sense as the guy to try and lock up longterm, at least in Barnwell’s scenario because the Lions would be sacrificing a second-round pick to acquire him. That won’t be cheap, as Spotrac projects Hendrickson’s market value at just under $35 million annually over a new four-year contract.
That said, Hutchinson and Hendrickson could anchor a dominant defensive front in Detroit for years if they become teammates, as Hutchinson is currently extension-eligible and likely to earn a monster contract of his own.
Phillips would come cheaper on a new contract, and given his injury history and lack of traditional statistical production so far this year, the Lions could potentially negotiate a deal comprised of fewer years and a more moderate salary.
Otherwise, Detroit could look at Phillips as a one-year rental play on a roster that is poised to contend for a Super Bowl for the third postseason in a row.
