Cliffhanger Awaits Vikings and Packers before Sunday
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs injured his knee last weekend in a win over the New York Giants, and with the Minnesota Vikings travelling to Wisconsin on Sunday, his status may morph into a true weekend cliffhanger.
A cliffhanger now hangs over the Vikings–Packers matchup, with Josh Jacobs’ injury status creating late-week uncertainty for Sunday’s showdown.
Jacobs hasn’t been ruled out this week, practicing here and there, but the momentum feels like the tailback could rest a week and ensure he’s ready for the season’s stretch run.
Josh Jacobs’ Status May Go All the Way to Kickoff of Packers-Vikings
One of those waiting games that bleeds into Sunday morning.
A Coin Flip on Josh Jacobs for Week 12
Jacobs has a genuine day-to-day status for the tilt with Minnesota, and if Sunday’s affair were a playoff game, he’d almost assuredly play.
Still, Green Bay has Thanksgiving football around the bend — six days from now — and it could err on the side of caution, letting Jacobs rest against the Vikings.
The Athletic‘s Matt Schneidman opined Wednesday, “Josh Jacobs says 60% of his knee swelling is gone. Now about getting range of motion back. Said he’s truly day-to-day and wants to play Sunday. Got hurt on second play of game and left in second quarter when he felt he was hurting the team.”
“Josh Jacobs says worst-case scenario is he misses one game. He’s still trying to play Sunday against the Vikings. If he doesn’t, he was adamant he’s playing Thanksgiving in Detroit.”
If one had to pick a side, it sounds like Jacobs will rest in Week 12 to be ready for Week 13.
Emanuel Wilson Waiting for His Turn
If Jacobs isn’t cleared by Sunday, RB2 Emanuel Wilson will get the ball. He’s a veteran with 53 carries for 220 yards and a touchdown — 4.2 yards per attempt. Solid, not spectacular.
Wilson isn’t close to Jacobs as a talent, but Minnesota has already shown a strange pattern this year: struggle against the backups, clamp down the stars. Kenneth Gainwell in Dublin and Kimani Vidal in L.A. gave them trouble. Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry did not.
The Vikings need to be ready for Wilson. He’ll run like a player trying to grab the RB1 job.
Vikings Could Have Injury Suspense, Too
Meanwhile, the Vikings have some suspenseful items, as well. OLB1 Jonathan Greenard returned to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday, turning the tide on his Week 12 availability. Greenard previously didn’t practice on Wednesday. The “limited” designation suggests he has a chance to roll Sunday; that will be followed like Jacobs’ status.
Additionally, guard Will Fries showed up on the injury report Wednesday, bothered by a knee problem. He, like Greenard, returned to practice on Thursday with a “limited” next to his name.
Fans of the Packers and Vikings may be weekend-watching for three players: Jacobs, Greenard, and Fries.
Fantasy Football Angle for Jacobs
Fantasy football seasons are hitting the home stretch, and many invested high-round draft capital in Jacobs. If he does not play on Sunday, rolling with the aforementioned Wilson could be what the doctor ordered, especially with the information above regarding Gainwell and Vidal earlier in the season.
Otherwise, lower-end halbacks from the waiver wire like Tyjae Spears, Tyler Allgeier, or even Jordan Mason of the Vikings could make sense.
From the Horse’s Mouth
Jacobs talked about his injury this week: “I think it’s just me being a competitor, honestly. And not only that, I feel like my big thing about me, and when it comes to the guys in this locker room, is there’s a certain respect level that we have to have for each other and for our craft.”
“And for me, man, it’s big. It’s hard for me to be able to look at somebody in their eyes and quit on them or look at them in the eyes and be like, ‘Man, I didn’t give it everything I had for you.’ You know, we’re in this together, and that’s something that I always been a big stickler of because, even now, you know, I’m taking less practice reps, and another guy’s got to get up and do more and that affects him and his body and everybody else.”
Green Bay’s rushing offense ranks 17th in the NFL per DVOA entering Week 12.
“So, it’s not wanting to let nobody down, but it’s also having the mentality to still want to be great and excel in everything you do. I felt like I didn’t want to be a hindrance to the team and I already felt like a few plays that I tried to play through it, I didn’t feel like myself. I couldn’t really run,” Jacobs added.
The Packers remain six-point favorites to beat the Vikings this Sunday.
You must be logged in to post a comment.