GREEN BAY — The worst-case scenario in Josh Jacobs’ mind doesn’t sound so bad.
But the Green Bay Packers running back knows full well that there’s an even worse situation, which is why his decision about playing in Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field isn’t that simple.
The good news Thursday was that Jacobs said the bone bruise he sustained in his knee and the bruised quadriceps he suffered above it is not nearly as swollen as it was when he banged it on the concrete-like artificial turf at MetLife Stadium in last Sunday’s 27-20 win over the New York Giants. The improvement allowed him to take part in individual drills at practice.
And given Jacobs’ predisposition to play through absolutely everything — and the fact that he didn’t sustain any structural, ligament damage in his knee — if he decides he is good to go against the Vikings, who’s going to stop him?
“Josh has got a pretty intense demeanor about him. So if he’s like, ‘I’m in,’ [I would say],’OK. I don’t care what the trainer just said, you’re in — go,’” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich only half-kiddingly said Thursday afternoon. “I wouldn’t get in his way.
“He’s a guy that does everything he can to get out there for his team, for sure.”
And that’s part of the problem. In Jacobs’ mind, if he were to choose to play it safe and not play against the Vikings, it would ensure he’d be good to go for next week’s marquee matchup with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Thanksgiving.
“Worst case, if I don’t play this week, [then] Thursday, I’m definitely playing,” Jacobs said. “It’s not like something that’ll linger over the past that. That’s really the worst-case scenario.”
Well, not exactly. The more problematic situation would be if Jacobs plays in Sunday’s matchup between the Packers (6-3-1) and Vikings (4-6), he re-injured the knee, the swelling returns and he isn’t able to play against the Lions (6-4).
“I would say the only reason why I’m thinking about [not playing] is the quick turnaround [to] Thursday,” said Jacobs, who called the MetLife turf “definitely the worst” in the NFL and said he sustained the injury on the Packers’ second offensive play.
“It’s one of those things, it’s like, ‘OK, you play and potentially re-aggravate it and get more swelling, and then you miss that next week and maybe even potentially the next week, or do you just rest and go Thursday?’ That’s honestly something that I’ve been thinking about, contemplating more and more as we getting closer [to the game].
“But what I can say and what I can guarantee is, if I feel like I can go and it’s not going to hinder the team, then I’m going to go. But it’s going to truly be a game-time decision.”
Through 10 games, Jacobs has carried 169 times for 648 yards (a 3.8-yard average, which would be the second-worst of his career) with 11 touchdowns and a longest run of only 19 yards. That’s well off his pace last season, when in his first year with the Packers he ran for 1,329 yards on 301 carries (a 4.4-yard average) and 15 TDs.
He has been hampered by inconsistent offensive line play and a myriad of bumps and bruises — he said Thursday he hasn’t felt fully healthy since before the Packers’ Week 4 tie with the Dallas Cowboys — but his teammates have an undying respect for how he plays through injuries, adversity and his frustration with his diminished production.
“Josh has always put the team before himself — every single time,” defensive end Micah Parsons said. “He’s always been that guy to be like, ‘I’m pushing through it. I’m putting my life out here for y’all,’ [to] let us know how much he cares about us. That shows you his mental toughness, what he brings to this team, what he brings to the game. And you see it in his play style.
“His play style is aggressive as hell. That’s how he attacks his treatment, that’s how he attacks his practice regimen, and he feels like he’s capable to practice, that means a lot — having one of your leaders out there on the field.
“Knowing what he’s going through, that’s challenging as hell. But that’s the kind of the guy he is, and I couldn’t be more happy to be his teammate.”
In spite of Parsons’ impassioned speech, the Packers are also know it’s their collective responsibility to protect Jacobs from himself — and make sure he is available for a stretch run that includes five NFC North matchups (including Sunday and Thanksgiving) over the final seven weeks.
“I think that’s the fine line you always have to walk,” Stenavich said. “You’ve got to trust the training staff. You’ve got to trust him as a player. And if something in your gut or whatever is telling you that maybe it’s best for him to take a week off, then that’s what you’ve got to do.”
Added running backs coach Ben Sirmans: “He has a very high pain threshold. And even more than just dealing with the pain is just his heart and his want-to to get out there. As a coach and as a trainer, you have to try to protect him from himself at times.”
Head coach Matt LaFleur figures to list Jacobs as questionable for Sunday, just as he was for the Packers’ Oct. 19 win at Arizona with a calf injury. Jacobs wound up playing in that game after a pregame workout for the medical staff and ran for 55 yards and two touchdowns.
The previous week, Jacobs played despite coming down with the flu and had his best game of the season (93 rushing yards, 150 total yards from scrimmage, two touchdowns) in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
“When it comes to the guys in this locker room, there’s certain respect level that we have to have for each other and for our craft. And for me, man, it’s big,” Jacobs said. “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.’
“We’re in this together, and that’s something that I always been a big stickler on. It’s not wanting to let anybody down, but it’s also having the mentality to still want to be great and excel in everything you do.”
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