Packers Make Final Decision on Josh Jacobs Before Thanksgiving
It was a busy day for the Packers on Wednesday, as the team tries to bounce quickly back from Sunday’s dominant defensive performance against the Vikings to take on the Lions, a must-win game if Green Bay wants to give itself a top-level chance to win the NFC North. The Packers come in at 7-3-1, and are 2-0 in the division, while the Lions are 7-4.
The Packers made one decision on the offensive side, opting to keep receiver Jayden Reed out for another week as he returns from collar-bone and foot injuries. When they put out their injury report on Wednesday, it was clear they’d made another, too: They were ready to get running back Josh Jacobs back on the field.
Jacobs was not on Wednesday’s injury report, which means he is good to go for the Lions.
Josh Jacobs In Need of Consistency
Jacobs had hurt his knee in Week 11 against the Giants. He wanted badly to play in Week 12, but the team held him back and Jacobs vowed he would return on Thanksgiving. He’s followed through on that.
Last year, Jacobs proved to be a shrewd addition by the Packers’ front office, as he went for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus another 342 yards as a receiver. This year, Jacobs is running behind a reconfigured and oft-injured offensive line, and the result have been rough at times. Jacobs has not had a 100-yard game this season and is on pace for a much more modest 1,037 yards on the year.
Jacobs definitely needs consistency and momentum to be effective. The Packers are hoping he gets more of that down the season’s stretch run.
As offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said of Jacobs, “It takes a little time in the run game to just get things going and the more opportunities you get the more momentum you can build. When you’re able to give Josh (Jacobs) the ball that many times, he’s going to start popping some and he’s going to wear people out.”
Packers Could Use Emanuel Wilson More With Josh Jacobs
With Jacobs out against the Vikings, RB2 Emanuel Wilson stepped up with 28 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers like to use Wilson as a change-of-pace back, but there is a case to be made for him to get more carries–he had just 53 coming into Week 12. Wilson for one said he’d like that chance.
“It’ll be crazy,” Wilson said of a one-two punch with Jacobs. “When Josh comes back, when he gets going I will try to match his energy. Today, I just tried to do that. … I just went out there and did my job. The guys believe in me so I tried to make every opportunity count for them.”
Lions Do Not Activate Former Second-Round Pick, Ending Season
The Detroit Lions did not activate a former second-round pick within his 21-day return to practice window, thus ending his season.
Defensive end Josh Paschal was listed as out for Thursday's game and was not activated from the Non-Football Injury list. Because he returned to practice Nov. 5, his 21-day window to return expired Wednesday.
NFL rules indicate that players have 21 days to return to practice while on an injury list, and if they do not return within that span then they revert back to their injury list for the remainder of the season. Paschal will officially be sidelined for the remainder of the year, and his 2025 season ends without an appearance in a regular season game.
This season was a pivotal one for the 2022 second-round pick, as he is in the final year of his rookie contract. He was originally placed on the NFI list ahead of the start of training camp, and recently revealed that it was because of back surgery.
Detroit was taking it slow with his recovery for precautionary purposes, but evidently didn't see enough to activate the defender prior to the expiration of the allotted time.
"It's a back (injury) is what it is, and there again, he is improving," Campbell said in late October. "We're trying to be smart and take it as far as we can. He's got a few more things to show us before we're ready to open the window for him to practice."
Injuries have been an unfortunate theme in Paschal's professional career. He missed most of training camp during his rookie season with a hernia, and has yet to play a full season. In 36 career games, Paschal has 62 combined tackles, five sacks, 12 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
The Kentucky product has an inspiring story, as he beat stage 3B acral lentiginous melanoma in his foot during his collegiate career and was a multi-year captain for the Wildcats.
Paschal was the 46th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Lions' draft class from that year also includes Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Kerby Joseph and Malcolm Rodriguez.
Paschal was listed among five players ruled out and eight players ruled questionable in Detroit's final injury report prior to their Thanksgiving matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Two key defenders were ruled questionable, as both Marcus Davenport and Terrion Arnold could return to action Thursday.
