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Running back Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers.

The Green Bay Packers have yet to sideline running back Josh Jacobs for their Week 12 game against the Minnesota Vikings after he sustained a knee injury last weekend against the New York Giants, leaving the contest prematurely and proving unable to return.

Preliminary injury reports suggested Jacobs could miss multiple weeks with the knee issue. Then came an update that he did not tear any ligaments in the joint and surgery would not be required, however Jacobs was still unlikely to suit up against Minnesota at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 23.

Then on Saturday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the team’s most recent position on Jacobs — essentially that he will be a game-time decision.

“Packers plan to work out RB Josh Jacobs, who is listed as questionable due to a knee injury, in pre-game warmups before deciding whether or not he will play vs. the Vikings, per source,” Schefter wrote. “Though Jacobs’ knee is structurally sound, it still is tender from last week and the Packers have another game in four days on Thanksgiving in Detroit to consider. But the team wants to see how Jacobs feels pregame before making any decisions.”

Packers Need Strong Run Game to Support Injury-Riddled Pass Attack

GettyWide receiver Jayden Reed of the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers’ run game is crucial to their offensive success, as tight end Tucker Kraft is out for the season with an ACL tear and wide receiver Jayden Reed won’t be back on the field this Sunday after collarbone and foot surgeries early in the year. Rookie wideout Matthew Golden is also questionable for the contest with shoulder and wrist issues and was a limited participant in practice all week.

With injuries causing issues in the pass game, Green Bay must run the ball efficiently, and that has been a problem this year even with Jacobs in the lineup. The Packers rank 19th in the NFL with 113.5 rushing yards per game. Jacobs is running the football at just 3.8 yards per attempt, which is bordering on a career low for the former first-team All-Pro.

Efficiency aside, Jacobs is still clearly the Packers’ best option out of the backfield with 648 rushing yards and 11 scores. He can also offer quarterback Jordan Love an outlet in the pass game with 28 receptions for 237 yards thus far in 2025.

Packers Will Likely Lean on Emanuel Wilson Against Vikings Whether Josh Jacobs Plays or Not

GettyRunning back Emanuel Wilson of the Green Bay Packers.

Whether Jacobs can play against the Vikings or not, Packers fans are likely to see a meaningful dose of backup Emanuel Wilson. Wilson will start if Jacobs can’t play, and he will probably shoulder a meaningful number of snaps even if the injured RB1 does take the field.

Running back Chris Brooks is third-string and will serve as RB2 behind Wilson if Jacobs can’t go.

Green Bay remains without 2024 third-round draft pick MarShawn Lloyd, who continues working his way back from a hamstring injury. The Packers have opened Lloyd’s three-week practice window, which means he’s likely to return to the active roster sometime relatively soon, though he won’t be a part of the offense against the Vikings this weekend.

Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible

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