It took RB Josh Jacobs 85 touches to score his first touchdown with the Green Bay Packers.
It took five weeks, but Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs finally has his first touchdown with his new team. Jacobs bounced outside and scored a 2-yard touchdown run to finish off a 96-yard scoring drive, giving the Packers a 7-0 lead over the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of Sunday’s showdown at SoFi Stadium.
Jacobs had 84 touches without scoring a touchdown to start the 2024 season.
With the hole plugged up inside, Jacobs bounced the run outside to his right and out-raced the end zone for the touchdown. The score was upheld on video review.
Jacobs’ scoring run came after an incredible throw and catch from Jordan Love to Jayden Reed. Love threw into triple coverage, but the perfect throw and perfect catch beat the defense for 53 yards.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was fined $45,020 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness related to the lowering of his helmet during Week 3 of the 2024 season.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was fined $45,020 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness related to the lowering of his helmet during Week 3 of the 2024 season.
The play came with 5:16 left in the fourth quarter of the Packers’ win over the Tennessee Titans. A penalty wasn’t called on the field, but video review of the play in question created the fine.
Why is the fine so large right away? Jacobs is a repeat offfender; he was twice fined over $21,000 for the same infraction while with the Las Vegas Raiders last season.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network has video of the latest incident involving Jacobs:
At the end of the run, Jacobs does appear to lower his head and initiate contact with the defender. It’s a play seen hundreds of times over the decades of professional football, but the NFL has outlawed it in attempt to protect players.
Jacobs is the first Packers player to be fined by the NFL under gameday accountability rules this season.
The league is posting all fined penalties and actions from the previous week on Saturdays this season.
From the NFL: “Players subject to accountability measures receive a letter informing them of what they did, a video of the play in question, why they are being fined and how much it will cost them. They also receive information on how to appeal the fine. If they choose not to appeal, the fine is withheld from their next game check.”
All appeals are handled appeals officers Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae and Jordy Nelson, four former players appointed by the NFL and NFLPA. Fines are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation.
Packers Wire will track the on-field penalties and resulting fines in recurring posts each week.
The Titans host the Packers at Nissan Stadium in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season and there are three causes for concern for the Titans.
The Tennessee Titans host the Green Bay Packers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday. The Titans have struggled to open their season, losing both outings thus far. They are improved over last season, but mistakes made by Will Levis at critical points in the game have doomed the outcomes.
The Packers, meanwhile, won their last game after opening their season with a loss, and they did it behind backup quarterback and former Tennessee Titan Malik Willis. Willis is a different quarterback than Jordan Love, but he managed to will his team to a win last week.
The Titans have their work cut out for them with the Packers, regardless of which quarterback plays. Their ground game will challenge the stoutness of the Titans run defense, and the offense has to clean up the mistakes. That said, here are three causes for concern for the Titans this week:
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images
Will Levis’ turnover woes
Will Levis has a turnover problem. He’s thrown three interceptions and is responsible for multiple fumbles. The issue with him isn’t necessarily the turnovers themselves, but the timing of them. His mistakes always seem to happen in critical moments when the Titans could swing the momentum in their favor. The Titans have to clean this up
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Josh Jacobs factor
Josh Jacobs is consistently among the top of the running back rankings in the NFL. At 5-feet-10 and 223 pounds, Jacobs is a bulldozer coming down the field and isn’t easy to stop. The only thing aiding the Titans is a nagging back injury that could slow Jacobs down, but he’s going to be a problem on Sunday.
Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
Turnovers
Will Levis has three interceptions, and the team has lost two fumbles. A punt has been blocked in both games, and if it happens again this week, the Titans will tie a decades-old record. In addition, the Titans have zero takeaways. If that continues, Sunday’s outcome will be the same as it was the last two weeks.
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons addressed the media after practice on Wednesday, saying that no one runs the ball on the Titans.
The Tennessee Titans defense has been one of the bright spots through the team’s first two weeks. Despite losing both games, the defense didn’t allow a single offensive touchdown in Week 1, and last week Aaron Rodgers may have put two touchdowns on the board, but the defense held him under 200 yards passing.
One of the biggest brags is the Titans’ defense, which allows under 100 yards rushing per game. They will face a test against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, though, as they average 424 rushing yards in two games. Josh Jacobs has 225 of those yards alone. After practice on Wednesday, Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons was asked about Jacobs.
After talking about the Packers’ 50-run plays in last week’s game, Simmons said, “… At the end of the day, since I’ve been here in Tennessee, and I’ve been preaching this message since I’ve been here since that’s kind of what got brought to my attention, no one run the ball on the Tennessee Titans defense. I think our mindset is, and one of those defensive goals this week is to stop the run. No matter who has the ball in they hand, we have to swarm to the ball and make sure everybody gets to the ball. And, quite frankly, we need to get the ball off them.”
The Packers are a run-heavy team with Malik Willis on the field, although he did make some good throws in place of Jodan Love last week. But the Titans’ defense has played well in general, especially against the run, so it will be interesting to see which side wins the ground game.
Packers RB Josh Jacobs was a monster after contact in Week 2 vs. the Colts.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs nearly set a new franchise record on Sunday, tallying 126 yards after contact in a win over the Indianapolis Colts—the second-most by any Packers running back since Pro Football Focus began tracking the stat in 2006.
Ty Montgomery had 160 against the Chicago Bears in 2016.
Jacobs just beat out Aaron Jones, who logged 120 yards after contact in a 2020 meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jacobs paced Green Bay’s offensive output in Week 2, racking up 151 yards on 32 carries. His increased workload was a direct result of Green Bay being without starting quarterback Jordan Love. Backup Malik Willis started in Love’s place and was limited to only 14 passing attempts.
The Packers leaned on Jacobs early and often despite facing stacked boxes against a suspecting Indianapolis defense. However, Jacobs was still effective even though 83 percent of his production came after he was touched by an Indianapolis defender.
Somehow, it wasn’t a career-high for Jacobs, who had 162 yards after contact against the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. Jacobs said Sunday was the second craziest game he had experienced behind the Seattle game.
Amazingly, despite a hard day’s work in temperatures nearing record highs at Lambeau Field, Green Bay’s running back still felt like he had more left in the tank.
“I feel like I could play another half,” Jacobs said. “It was hot. It was hot, especially in warm-ups, but body-wise, I feel good, man. I told them, I don’t think I’ve ever had a game where I came out kind of like this clean. So, I feel good.”
With Jordan Love sidelined, the Packers may need to continue relying heavily on their running game. Fortunately, Jacobs has proven to be a durable and effective bell cow capable of shouldering the offensive load.
Some BOLD predictions for the Packers entering Sunday’s showdown with the Colts.
As the Green Bay Packers head into their Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, the stakes are high as both teams are looking to rebound from tough Week 1 losses.
The Packers are in uncharted territories as there are questions surrounding Jordan Love’s availability after his injury. It also doesn’t help that the defense surrendered 34 points to the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, the Colts will be looking to establish consistency with Anthony Richardson under center while fixing their defensive woes, particularly against the run.
With so many storylines brewing, this game has all the makings of an entertaining matchup. Here are five bold predictions that could define the outcome of this critical Week 2 matchup.
1. Malik Willis scores three touchdowns
Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis (7) throws on the run against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
The former Tennessee Titan doesn’t have much experience under his belt but he has played in eight games with three of them being starts. He’s 51-for-100 on passing attempts and has thrown for 536 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. Willis does have 27 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown. You would have to go back to his collegiate career at Liberty which made him an intriguing NFL prospect. In his final season with the Flames, Willis totaled 2,857 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and 13 rushing touchdowns.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is no stranger to having a backup quarterback making starts as he had Jordan Love start in Week 9, 2021 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and a majority of 2018 with the Tennessee Titans when Blaine Gabbert played for an injured Marcus Mariota. In those games, LaFleur did put the backup quarterback in a position to succeed as Love outplayed Patrick Mahomes but lost 13-7, then the Titans finished 9-7 and just missed the playoffs.
Willis hasn’t gotten much of a shot in the NFL but this becomes a perfect opportunity to show what he can. He has a lot of talent around him, plus a coach that can put him in the right spot to make a play. Willis will show off his athleticism and dual-threat ability where he could probably run for two touchdowns and throw for one.
2. Josh Jacobs Totals 150+ All-Purpose Yards
Sep 6, 2024; Sao Paulo, BRA; Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Neo Quimica Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Malik Willis scoring three total touchdowns could be a long shot, especially with how quickly he’s thrown into the starting quarterback role. However, one thing for certain, the Packers will rely on running back Josh Jacobs to carry the bulk of the offense.
There are many reasons to believe Jacobs could be in for a monster game against the Colts. The first one has already been mentioned with helping out Willis and carrying most offensive plays. We saw against the Eagles that the Packers won’t abandon the run as the first half was difficult but Jacobs began to spring open some nice runs in the second half. There’s no secret that the Packers will rely on Jacobs but they can’t start slow like last week.
Another reason is that the Colts’ run defense struggled against the Houston Texans in Week 1. Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon had 30 carries for 159 yards and one touchdown. Lastly, Establishing a strong running game early will not only take pressure off Willis but also help the Packers control the clock and keep Indianapolis’ offense off the field. A heavy dose of Jacobs could limit the opportunities for the Colts’ offense, especially if they want Anthony Richardson to find a rhythm.
3. Packers Defense Forces Three Turnovers
Sep 6, 2024; Sao Paulo, BRA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) runs during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Neo Quimica Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Packers’ defense showed its ability to create turnovers in Week 1, forcing three takeaways against the Eagles. Now, this will be the first time the Packers will see Richardson; however, he completed only 9-of-19 passes with a few overthrown balls and a critical interception in their loss to the Texans. With Richardson’s tendency to make mistakes under pressure, the Packers’ front seven will aim to collapse the pocket and force rushed decisions. If the defense can generate consistent pressure, they could easily come away with multiple interceptions or forced fumbles, and help limit the pressure on Willis.
4. Romeo Doubs Breakout Game
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – JUNE 04: Romeo Doubs #87 of the Green Bay Packers participates in drills during the Green Bay Packers Minicamp at Ray Nitschke Field on June 04, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Last week, it was the Jayden Reed show but given the current state of the wide receiver room, anyone could explode for a huge game. In a Week 2 matchup against the Colts, it could be Romeo Doubs, who might have developed a strong chemistry with Willis in practice so far.
Just like their run game, the Colts passing game also struggled against the Texans and are dealing with injuries in their secondary. Doubs has shown in the past that he is a reliable target in both the short and deep routes and given the versatility of Willis, Doubs could be Willis’ go-to guy.
5. Rashan Gary Records Two Sacks
(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Rashan Gary made his presence felt in Week 1, recording a sack against the Eagles. To help out the offense and lead the defense to a better performance, Gary is a player the Packers will have to lean on.
The Colts’ offensive line struggled to protect Richardson in Week 1 as he was sacked four times, was hurried on several occasions, and played a factor in Richardson’s errant throws. This also led to Richardson playing a lot outside of the pocket and forcing himself to run the ball
If Gary can build on his Week 1 performance, he’s in a great position to record multiple sacks and force Richardson into hurried throws or costly mistakes. His ability to collapse the pocket could be key in disrupting the Colts’ offensive rhythm, giving the Packers a bounce-back performance, and helping Willis and the offense.
The Colts run defense, which struggled mightily against the Texans, faces another tough test this week against Josh Jacobs and the Packers.
After getting ripped apart in the run game by the Houston Texans in Week 1, the Indianapolis Colts face another difficult test in Week 2, facing Josh Jacobs and the Green Bay Packers.
Texans’ running back Joe Mixon then took full advantage, rushing for 159 yards, while Houston as a team generated over 200 yards in the run game.
For Jacobs and the Packers, it was a slow start on the ground in their opening game against Philadelphia, but sparked by a pair of second-half runs that went for 22 yards and 33 yards, Jacobs totaled 87 yards on the game at 5.4 yards per rush.
With quarterback Jordan Love likely not playing for the Packers, the Colts are preparing for Malik Willis to get the start. An added wrinkle that the Colts will have to contend with this week is Willis’ ability to make plays with his legs, which when coupled with a player of Jacobs’ caliber, can potentially be a stressor for defenses.
Success for the defense, particularly against a backup, begins with slowing the run game, which will put Willis predictable passing situations, where the Colts’ pass rush can really pin its ears back.
On the flip side, moving the ball on the ground sets up short down-and-distance situations where the entire playbook is open to offense, specifically putting an added stress on the secondary, opening up opportunities in the pass game.
So unlike in Week 1, where the Colts wanted to provide more help on the back-end, we could see Bradley deploy heavier boxes against the Packers in an effort to force Willis to be the one to beat them.
The trickle-down effect of that approach, however, is that is going to leave some one-on-one matchups for the Packers’ talented receiving group against a Colts’ cornerback room that now has even more questions with JuJu Brents on injured reserve.
There isn’t ever a perfect game plan–otherwise every team would run the same scheme. There are pros and cons to each, and an emphasis in one area can leave you exposed in another.
Having said that, it’s hard to envision a path to success for the Colts on Sunday in Green Bay if they’re unable to stop the run once again. The Colts have to find a way to limit Jacobs.
Former Saints QB and WWL radio host Bobby Hebert still sees a burst in Alvin Kamara despite his age, calling him ‘a young 29’
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback and now WWL radio host, Bobby Hebert, had high praise for Alvin Kamara during the coaches show with Dennis Allen. Hebert called the running back “a young 29.”
At running back, the age of 30 is that point where people begin to mentally write off players. Hebert cautioned fans against doing that with Kamara. He still sees a player with a lot in the tank: “I’ve seen the burst in OTA’s in minicamps. I still think he can hit it and get it.”
Sunday’s performance backs that statement. Kamara ran for an easy 83 yards and didn’t run the ball in the final 18 minutes. It was still more yards than he ran for in a single game a year ago.
And when you look at how Kamara compares to other running backs who have made high-profile moves in free agency, it’s easy to think he could have a lot left in the tank. Kamara has carried the ball 1,330 times in his 102-game career. Josh Jacobs is catching up to him with 1,321 attempts through his first 74 games. Saquon Barkley is already up to 1,225 carries in just 75 games. Aaron Jones isn’t far behind at 1,191 attempts in 98 games. Derrick Henry is well ahead at 2,043 in 120 games.
Allen saw the same dynamic ability in the running backs room, and praised the offensive line’s performance: “There was a lot said about the offensive line going into the season, and rightfully so. It was a question mark because we had three new starters.”
In Week 1, the unit performed well. Allen has the team at 2.9 yards per carry before contact, first in the NFL. No matter who you play, that will always be a recipe for success.
Josh Jacobs refused to sign with the Kansas City #Chiefs during free agency: ‘No way I was going there’ | @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions seeking an unprecedented three-peat. Players would ideally want to join the team, but old rivalries are too much to ignore.
Former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs told Dan Pompei of TheAthletic.com his strong reason for avoiding the Chiefs in free agency.
“They were trying to get me hard, but there was no way I was going there. I feel like once you are rivals with somebody, you have a genuine hate for them,” said Jacobs. “I couldn’t see myself in that color. And besides, I never wanted to be the guy that joined the dominant team. I want to be the guy that beats the dominant team.”
During his five seasons with the Raiders, the former Alabama standout accumulated 5,545 yards on the ground and 46 rushing touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in rushing in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors. Jacobs decided to sign with the Green Bay Packers because he couldn’t see past the many battles against Kansas City to join them potentially.
Dan Pompei of The Athletic has corrected his report, saying the New York Giants never made running back Josh Jacobs a free agent offer.
Dan Pompei of The Athletic caused a stir over the weekend, issuing a report that suggested the New York Giants offered free agent running back Josh Jacobs a massive deal that was subsequently rejected.
Pompei wrote that general manager Joe Schoen had offered Jacobs between $3 million and $4 million more than he ultimately signed for with the Green Bay Packers.
The rejection, Pompei said, was due to New York state taxes, the MetLife Stadium turf, an overbearing media and other issues.
“The Giants came on strong with an offer between $3 million and $4 million more than he eventually accepted. But Jacobs was turned off by the New York taxes, lifestyle, media and the artificial turf at MetLife Stadium,” Pompei wrote.
Ultimately, that didn’t happen.
On Sunday night, Pompei issued a correction to his report, revealing that the Giants never offered Jacobs any kind of deal.
This isn’t to say the Giants didn’t negotiate with Jacobs. He was discussed as a potential option to replace Saquon Barkley, as we saw on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” However, what’s now clear is that no formal offer was ever made — particularly the massive offer Pompei initially reported.
Had Pompei’s initial account been accurate, it also would have cast a dark shadow over NFL Films and the Giants for omitting such a noteworthy detail from “Hard Knocks.” After all, their appearance on the docuseries has already generated leaguewide criticism as it is.
But no. The Giants did not undervalue Barkley only to overvalue Jacobs. Instead, they settled on a fair market value for Devin Singletary and will enter the regular season using a running back-by-committee approach.
