Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is set to undergo surgery on a broken right ring finger sustained early in a Week 9 victory over the New England Patriots, with a recovery timeline expected to reach up to three weeks, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
- Jacobs is slated to miss a maximum of three weeks following his finger surgery, forcing fantasy managers to look toward backups Kaleb Johnson and Pierre Strong Jr. for immediate backfield production.
- The injury arrives directly ahead of the NFL trade deadline, placing heavy scrutiny on whether Green Bay front-office executives will pursue external backfield help.
Jacobs suffered the fracture during the first quarter of the 45-27 win over the Patriots, rushing four times for five yards before exiting the contest. According to reporting by The Athletic, the running back caught his right-hand finger in the facemask of New England safety Craig Woodson during a rushing attempt.
While Jacobs indicated a desire to play through the issue, gripping struggles forced him to the sideline for the remainder of the afternoon. Kaleb Johnson stepped in to lead the backfield with 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, while Pierre Strong Jr. added 22 yards on eight carries. MarShawn Lloyd missed the Week 9 fixture entirely.
#Packers standout running back Josh Jacobs is set to undergo surgery on his injured finger this week and is expected to miss a maximum of three weeks, sources tell @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/qE7ezuzHe2
Green Bay entered the weekend carrying the lowest rushing yardage per game mark in the league at 60.6 yards, alongside a historical note from CBS Sports Research highlighting just 485 rushing yards through eight games for a winning team.
Despite those team-wide rushing struggles, Jacobs remains the focal point of the backfield after signing a four-year, $48 million contract. With the trade deadline landing one day after the surgery report, speculation mounts regarding whether the franchise might explore external acquisitions like Jonathan Taylor or Tony Pollard, as reported by CBS Sports.
Josh Jacobs said he fractured his right ring finger. They’ll try and figure out a way for him to play through it. He just couldn’t grip the ball.
While the ground game searches for consistency without its primary ball-carrier, the Packers’ passing game operates at an elite level. Jordan Love threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns against New England, connecting heavily with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden.
Watson posted 171 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven catches, while Golden hauled in 10 receptions for 164 yards and a score. That performance marked just the fourth time since 2000 that a teammate duo each surpassed 160 receiving yards and a touchdown in a single game, matching a feat last accomplished by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in 2022, per CBS Sports.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaleb Johnson (Week 9) | 14 | 68 | 1 |
| Josh Jacobs (2026 Season) | 36 | 80 | 1 |
Green Bay must manage a three-week window without their primary runner while evaluating depth options and potential roster adjustments before the trading window closes.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
