Packers’ Matt LaFleur Drops Strong Statement About Josh Jacobs

The Green Bay Packers earned their third straight victory Sunday night, but coach Matt LaFleur still sees a clear need for improvement on the ground as running back Josh Jacobs nears a return.

Green Bay defeated the Dallas Cowboys 23-13 at Lambeau Field, moving to 4-2. Jordan Love completed 23 of 41 passes for 276 yards, adding a nine-yard touchdown throw to Matthew Golden and a one-yard rushing score. The Packers intercepted Dak Prescott twice and held Dallas to 13 points in a penalty-filled contest.

The win came despite another quiet night from the running game. Green Bay managed only 57 yards on 26 carries, an average of roughly 2.2 yards per attempt. That total arrived against a Cowboys defense that entered the game ranked last in the NFL against the run, allowing 168.4 rushing yards per game.

LaFleur addressed the ongoing issues after the game and pointed toward Jacobs as a potential boost. Jacobs has been on the commissioner’s exempt list since Aug. 30 amid a legal matter and is set to come off the list Monday, making him eligible to play next Sunday at the Detroit Lions. He has missed all six games this season without practicing.

“Time will tell. But I do have a lot of confidence that he can provide a spark,” LaFleur said.

The coach made clear that the current approach cannot continue. The Packers rank last in the league in rushing yards per game at about 60.4, leaving Love frequently in long-yardage situations after early downs.

“We’ve got to find a way to get this run game going, because it’s just too inconsistent. When you’re in second-and-long quite a bit when you’re running on first down,” LaFleur said.

Jacobs produced 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season after totaling 1,329 yards and 15 scores in 2024. He also offers a reliable receiving option out of the backfield. His absence has left the load to a committee that has struggled to generate consistent gains, even as the passing attack has kept the team competitive.

Cornerback Keisean Nixon expressed optimism about the additions still to come.

“It’s a different team now. Think they was scared of us then? We’ll see what happen when 8 get back and then 1 come back,” Nixon said, referring to Jacobs (No. 8) and edge rusher Micah Parsons (No. 1).

Parsons remains on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus sustained last December. No firm return date has been set, with some reports pointing to early November as the earliest realistic window.

The Packers’ passing game has carried them through the recent stretch. Golden’s six catches for 104 yards and a score highlighted a balanced aerial attack that produced enough points to secure the win. Still, LaFleur has stressed that a more reliable ground game would reduce the pressure on Love and open up the offense further.

Eligibility for Jacobs does not guarantee an immediate full workload after weeks away from practice. The NFL’s personal conduct policy review remains open, though the games already missed will count toward any potential future discipline. For now, the focus turns to Detroit, where a more effective run game could help Green Bay build on its current momentum in the NFC North.