A finger injury to running back Josh Jacobs has the Green Bay Packers more actively exploring the running back market ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
James Palmer of Amazon’s NFL coverage reported that the team has held discussions about adding a back even before Jacobs’ setback. Jacobs fractured the ring finger on his right hand in Sunday’s 45-27 victory over the New England Patriots and was unable to return after four carries for five yards.
Coach Matt LaFleur said after the game that Jacobs “fractured a finger. Hopefully we can do something to allow him to go out there, but he was just having a hard time gripping the ball.” Jacobs indicated the swelling had subsided and that the team hopes to protect the finger so he can play in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Palmer wrote that the Packers “have been involved in RB conversations ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. The run game issues go beyond the RBs on the roster, but if you ask anyone in that building, they’ll tell you there is a sizable gap between Jacobs and the rest of the group.”
The Packers were not viewed as desperate for help while Jacobs was healthy. The injury has shifted that outlook because the drop-off to the remaining backs is considered significant.
Green Bay finished with a season-high 129 rushing yards against New England. Kaleb Johnson carried 14 times for 68 yards and a touchdown in the first extended opportunity of his Packers tenure. Pierre Strong Jr. added 22 yards on eight carries.
Johnson had been inactive for the two games preceding the Patriots matchup. He fumbled in Week 4, saw reduced snaps in the following two weeks, and was held out once Jacobs returned from the commissioner’s exempt list.
MarShawn Lloyd, who had served as the primary backup earlier, managed nine rushes for 27 yards in that role. He was inactive in Week 8 with a knee issue, prompting the return of Johnson to the active roster.
The team expects Jacobs to be available this week with some form of protection on the finger. Uncertainty remains about how effectively he can grip the ball in game conditions.
Green Bay has been connected to higher-profile names such as Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts and Breece Hall of the New York Jets. Those discussions have not advanced to the point of a deal, according to league sources familiar with the talks.
The Packers are more likely to target a lower-cost option who can complement Jacobs and provide short-term insurance. Names that have surfaced include Tyjae Spears of the Tennessee Titans, J.K. Dobbins of the Denver Broncos, Kimani Vidal of the Los Angeles Chargers and Tyler Allgeier of the Arizona Cardinals.
Those players would require less draft compensation than a star such as Taylor. They would also address the immediate depth concern without overhauling the backfield.
The trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Any move would need to be completed before that cutoff for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Jacobs has been limited this year after starting the season on the commissioner’s exempt list. He has 36 carries for 80 yards and one touchdown in three games since his reinstatement.
The Packers’ ground game ranked among the league’s least productive through the first eight weeks. Sunday’s output marked a clear improvement, yet coaches and front-office personnel still view the overall production as a concern that extends beyond the running backs themselves.
LaFleur has not publicly addressed potential trade interest. The focus remains on evaluating Jacobs’ ability to play through the finger injury before deciding whether additional help is necessary by Tuesday’s deadline.
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