Running back Josh Jacobs’ signing with the Green Bay Packers in free agency in the offseason generated considerable buzz. Could he replace longtime Packers standout Aaron Jones as starting running back, a position he had held since his rookie season in 2017?
Now, as the Packers (9-3) head into a Week 14 showdown Thursday at Detroit (11-1), the sixth-year running back has not only supplanted Jones, who’s playing well with the Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs, 26, also is poised to have one of the best seasons of his career.
There are many facets of Jacobs’ game to watch closely.
Per ESPN.com, he is on track to conclude the season with remarkable statistics: 12 total touchdowns (tying for highest in his career), 1,398 rushing yards (second to his standout 2022 season) and 368 receiving yards (also the second-highest total in his career).
Jacobs is averaging 9.6 yards per reception, a career high, and 4.5 yards per rush, only 0.4 yards short of his personal best. Additionally, he scored the first receiving touchdown of his career during the Packers’ 24-22 victory against the Houston Texans in Week 7, a milestone that underscores his evolution into a versatile running back.
Jacobs is ranked among the elite running backs in the NFL. He boasts 987 rushing yards, the third-highest total in the league, and averages 82.3 rushing yards per game, fourth best in the league. Moreover, with 50 first downs, he is tied for fifth in the league among running backs, underscoring his dependability in advancing the ball.
