The Green Bay Packers could be shorthanded at the running back position, as starter Josh Jacobs and backup Emanuel Wilson popped up on the injury report. While Jacobs is battling a knee injury and will likely play, Wilson is more of a question mark. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the running back “is trending towards going as long as he’s feeling better.” Reading between the lines, it appears as though Wilson will be a legitimate game-time decision.
Emanuel Wilson Injury Update: Packers RB A True Game-Time Decision With Illness
Normally, the injury status of a backup running back like Emanuel Wilson isn’t that big of a deal. However, given the uncertainty surrounding Josh Jacobs, it’s fair to wonder if Green Bay will be down to their third-string running back by kickoff. While Rapoport’s report suggests Jacobs will power through and play, it’s not a foregone conclusion.
Emanuel Wilson previously proved he’s more than capable of filling in for Jacobs when given the opportunity. The former first-round pick missed Week 12 with the same knee injury, and Wilson stepped up and finished the night with 107 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts. Additionally, he added another 18 yards through the air on two receptions.
If the illness sidelines Emanuel Wilson and the knee injury sidelines Josh Jacobs, the Packers will likely turn to a combination of practice squad promotee Pierre Strong and third-string running back Chris Brooks. Third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd is techincally practicing and eligible for the active roster, but he suffered a hamstring injury and probably isn’t ready to play. Even if he could suit up, he’s missed every game of the 2025 season with a calf injury and probably shouldn’t handle a large workload.
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