The Green Bay Packers’ running back situation just got a lot more interesting. Not only is starting running back Josh Jacobs questionable against the Denver Broncos with knee bruising, but backup ball-carrier Emanuel Wilson was just given a questionable status for the game because of an illness. If both miss the game, that would have left just blocking back Chris Brooks as the lone running back left on the team’s 53-man roster.
So on Saturday, after announcing the Wilson adjustment, the Packers also called up running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad up to the gameday roster. Green Bay has done this in the past when only Jacobs was questionable going into games, but Strong, who signed with the practice squad in Week 2, has yet to play a regular-season snap for the Packers.
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The fact that only Strong was elevated from the practice squad, instead of also linebacker Jamon Johnson, means that linebacker Kristian Welch will likely suit up against the Broncos. Welch suffered a concussion against the Chicago Bears last week, but was a limited participant in practice throughout the week. With the way the Packers play both defense and special teams, it would be tough for the team to roll into a game with only four linebackers, which is one reason why Johnson was called up to the gameday roster on Thanksgiving to play against the Detroit Lions when Quay Walker was out with an injury.
As far as prognosticating the backfield goes, though, you’re probably going to have to wait until Sunday for any concrete news about the situation. With Jacobs and Wilson’s statuses both up in the air, it’s anyone’s guess who the two running backs playing with Brooks will be against Denver.
For what it’s worth, Jacobs said his knee issue stemmed from swelling around his knee, which got better as the week progressed. After being a non-participant in both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, he was limited on Friday.