This week has been a roller coaster for the Green Bay Packers franchise and superstar running back Josh Jacobs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that Jacobs’ initial court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 10. We now as of today know that that date has been moved up two months and now will take place next week, stemming from a May altercation with his girlfriend.
It’s a six-week minimum suspension, but the NFL could very well suspend Jacobs for the whole season, which would be a huge blow to the Packers, who have Super Bowl aspirations.
So who will fill the role of Jacobs while he’s gone? They have a few talented running backs on the roster, but one to keep an eye on is Chris Brooks.
Brooks emerges as a name to watch
Brooks has made the Packers’ 53-man roster for a second straight season and is poised for a breakout season. The 26-year-old is in his second season in Green Bay after he first joined the team’s practice squad in September 2024.
Brooks returned to Packers training camp three weeks ago after appearing on the non-football injury (NFI) list with “a little something” to his hamstring, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Brooks ran for 12 yards on five carries in 15 offensive snaps in Green Bay’s second preseason game, a 33-13 win over the Broncos, before sitting out the 42-38 preseason victory over Arizona.
After the restricted free agent agreed to a new contract with the Packers through the 2027 season, a deal that his agency One West Sports Group told Reuters was for $4.85 million over two years, the 26-year-old running back, who played at Cal before finishing his collegiate career with the BYU Cougars, is happy to find stability in the league.
“I love it here,” he said. “I love being a G; I think as far as being a component of this team, it means a lot to me. I’m going to give this organization and this team all that I’ve got. My brothers know that I’ll die for them on that field.”
An undrafted free agent out of BYU, the fourth-year running back is entering his second season in Green Bay, having spent his first season with the Miami Dolphins appearing in nine games of his rookie year.
Brooks played in all 17 games last season with Green Bay, running for 106 yards on 27 carries and adding 91 yards on 13 catches while also playing special teams.
He is poised for a breakout because of the skillset he showed at BYU his final season and his experience in Matt LaFleur’s offense over the past three seasons. In his senior season in Provo, he had 130 carries for 813 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.28 a carry. He was also considered one of the best blocking backs in the Big 12, which makes him a threat on all three downs.
The Packers have other backs, including one ahead of Brooks in former USC Trojan MarShawn Lloyd.
Injuries have been the story for Lloyd through his first two seasons after the Packers selected the USC running back in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Lloyd has played in only one NFL game. That came nearly two years ago in Week 2 of his rookie season. He had six carries for 15 yards and one reception for three yards. But Lloyd suffered a severe ankle injury in that game and was placed on injured reserve.
The Green Bay Packers also acquired second-year running back Kaleb Johnson on Sunday, Aug. 30, from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick.
The Steelers selected Johnson in the third round after his junior season at Iowa. He was named the Big Ten Running Back of the Year and earned first-team All-American honors after a 1,537-yard, 21-touchdown season.
Johnson’s opportunities were limited with the Steelers, appearing in only 10 games. He had 69 yards on 28 carries for 2.5 yards per carry and zero touchdowns while playing behind Jaylen Warren (211 carries, 958 yards) and Kenneth Gainwell (114 carries, 537 yards).
Head coach Matt LaFleur has always raved about Brooks and did so again in May. However, LaFleur’s comments typically credit Brooks with doing multiple things for the team.
“Chris is one of those guys, whether it’s offensively or wherever we need him on special teams. He fills a lot of roles for us. You know, we use him sometimes more along the lines of a tight end and doing some cross sifting and things of that nature. I just, what I love about Chris is the mentality. He’s not afraid to work. He comes in every day with a great attitude and he’s always giving his best effort.”
The Packers open the season on the road against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 13.
