Against the Vikings on Sunday, Packers running back Emanuel Wilson got the nod as RB1 for the first time in his three-year NFL career. He did not let the team down, rushing for a personal-best 107 yards and two touchdowns. It was also nearly one year to the day the last time a Green Bay running back reached the 100-yard threshold.
Wilson stops Packers’ 100-yard rushing drought one day shy of full year
Josh Jacobs has not had his most efficient season. He’s found the end zone 11 times, but is only averaging 3.8 yards per carry for 648 total.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) stiff-arms Carolina Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum (98) on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Panthers won the game, 16-13, on a 49-yard field goal as time expired.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Prior to exiting last week’s game against the Giants, he had rushed for at least 50 yards in seven of nine games. He has not, however, eclipsed the century mark since last year on November 24, against the 49ers. In Jacobs’ absence yesterday, November 23, 2025, that made Wilson the first Packers rusher to do so in the interval.
Wilson was not incredibly efficient, either, needing 28 carries to reach his yardage total, but being able to hand him the ball that many times gave the Packers a vise grip on time of possession. Overall they ran 65 plays to the Vikings’ 44, and ran the ball 42 times versus 23 pass plays.
Wilson boosted his rushing yards to 307 for the season on 4.0 yards per carry. Like Jacobs, he was much more efficient in 2024, when he ran for 4.9 yards per attempt (502 rushing yards total). Jacobs averaged 4.4.
Green Bay’s woes on the offensive line are a probable culprit in the decline. Between injuries and poor performance, it has been hard for them to establish a rhythm, in turn affecting the productivity of the run game.
Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson (31) carries the ball during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 23, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Seahawks 20-7.
Nonetheless, Wilson has shown enough in his reps, both last season and this, to earn a larger role moving forward. Moving from a rushing attack centered on a 2-to-1 split in favor of Jacobs to a more evenly balanced workload could pay dividends in the future.
Not only could it help Jacobs stay fresher, the hard truth is that the younger Wilson might simply have a bit more juice without all those miles on his legs. A 50-50 split with Jacobs as a short-yardage bruiser and Wilson for a change of pace is worth exploring.
For More Great Wisconsin Content
Follow me on X at @ezsniper14 and follow us@WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports,click here!