The Green Bay Packers will almost certainly be without starting running back Josh Jacobs to start the 2026 season. Yes, Jacobs’ preliminary hearing was moved up to today, but it is unlikely anything that happens at that hearing will result in the running back being immediately removed from the commissioner’s exempt list and available for Week 1. So, how will the Packers divide up the running duties until Jacobs returns?
The starter right now is third-year man MarShawn Lloyd. Lloyd is healthy now and ready to make his first NFL start. In his first two seasons, a series of soft tissue injuries limited the former USC star to just one game and six carries.
Lloyd is a speedy, one-cut runner who is a threat to break a long run at any time. However, because he has barely seen the field in the last two years, he appeared rusty at times during the preseason. His ability to sense where tacklers are coming from and to avoid them seemed to be lacking albeit in limited action during the preseason. That will likely change once he gets a few games under his belt.
At 5’9”, Lloyd is not built to be a bell cow back. Even in college, Lloyd never had more than 116 times in an 11-game season or 10.5 carries per game. So, while Lloyd may start and he may get more carries than anybody else, he will likely not be getting 20-plus touches in many games. That is especially true given his injury history.
The Packers added Kaleb Johnson to the roster late in the preseason. Johnson gives the Packers more of a between the tackles kind of runner. While he is not as elusive as Jacobs, he is also an inside runner who can gain tough yards.
At 6’1”, Johnson is built to carry the ball more frequently. In fact, in his final season in college at Iowa, he carried the ball 240 times in 12 games or 20 carries a game. He also caught 22 passes that season.
But because he was added to the roster so late in camp, Johnson may not have a lot of familiarity with the Green Bay offense. For that reason, he was listed as third on the Packers depth chart entering Week 1. Johnson will still play against the Vikings but may not see as much action as he likely will in a week or two when he is more familiar with the playbook. Johnson should get the ball in short-yardage situations and near the goal line.
Chris Brooks is now listed as the primary backup on the depth chart. Brooks may not be a dynamic runner or receiver, but he is steady and reliable. He is also the best blocker among the Packers running backs. Brooks does an excellent job of picking up stunts and blitzers and protecting the quarterback.
Because the Packers offensive line is full of question marks to start the season, Brooks may see even more time on the field in Week 1 against the Vikings. The Packers are unsure if Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks will be able to play Sunday and if they do, whether they’ll be able to play the entire game. When you add the disguised blitzes Brian Flores likes to run, Brooks may be even more important to the offense in Week 1 than he typically is.
All three backs may also have a bigger role as receivers against Minnesota. If the Packers have to make more quick release passes to foil the blitz, the running backs could catch more passes than they typically do.
We should ultimately see more passing in the offense as Matt LaFleur is likely to rely more on Jordan Love and the passing game early in the season.
We still don’t know how long Jacobs will be out of the lineup. The Packers will likely go by running back by committee until he returns. Expect LaFleur to adjust the number of carries each back will get based on the opponent, who’s been playing well, and the game situation. Regardless, the Packers will need to run the ball enough to keep defenses honest and set up their play action passing game. We’ll see how well they do without Jacobs in the lineup.
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