Despite being limited in practice all week, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs doesn’t have an injury designation for Thursday’s game against the Detroit Lions.
That means the three-time Pro Bowler has the green light to play in the classic Thanksgiving showdown.
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After Jacobs suffered a knee injury during a Week 11 win over the New York Giants, he assured reporters that he’d miss at most one game.
Turns out, Jacobs was right.
In his absence last week, Emanuel Wilson got plenty of work. Helping Green Bay defeat a struggling Minnesota Vikings team, Wilson piled up 28 carries, 107 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, all career highs, in his first NFL start.
Wilson, a former undrafted free agent out of Division II Fort Valley State, also rushed for 40 yards and a score in relief of Jacobs against the Giants. He has proven to be a productive option in the backfield. While Jacobs remains Green Bay’s top back, Wilson gives the Packers additional force in the run game.
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Last week, Jacobs described his injury as a bone bruise on his knee. He told reporters that he banged it, also resulting in a contusion in his thigh.
He said it caused a range-of-motion issue because of swelling and stiffness. But the 2019 first-round pick, who notably rushed for 1,329 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns last season, will be back to work Thursday against the Lions.
That said, the Packers won’t have wide receiver Jayden Reed, for whom they opened the 21-day practice window last week. Reed is still on injured reserve while completing his recovery from foot and collarbone surgeries.
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Reed is one of four Green Bay players ruled out for Thursday’s game. The others are defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot), defensive tackle Karl Brooks (ankle) and receiver/kick returner Savion Williams (foot).
Receiver Matthew Golden (wrist), who missed last week’s game versus the Vikings, is listed as “questionable.” If the Packers aren’t deep at receiver on Thanksgiving, that’s all the more reason Jacobs’ presence will come in handy.
