Packers' plan at running back revealed with Josh Jacobs situation in flux

The Green Bay Packers don't know when star running back Josh Jacobs will see the field next.

Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list after charges were filed against him on Aug. 27, which stemmed from an alleged domestic incident with a woman on May 23.

Jacobs was charged with battery and criminal destruction of property, and he will appear in court on Sept. 10. In the meantime, his presence on the commissioner's list means that he can't practice or play.

The NFL could also suspend him, and that decision can be independent of any legal issues that are resolved in court.

What that means for the Packers is that they enter the 2026 season with a massive unknown at running back. With Jacobs sidelined, their new RB1 is former third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd, who has played in only one NFL game over the past two seasons due to injury.

That's why it's not surprising to hear that Green Bay will look to multiple players to tote the rock to start the season.

"It's going to be running back by committee, at least for a little while," is what offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Green Bay Packers can't count on MarShawn Lloyd just yet

Lloyd has talent, without a doubt. He's shown flashes of it in his few moments of being healthy with the Packers. The problem? He has 10 career snaps.

"Stenavich said that Lloyd just needs to go out there and play football and get that confidence," Demovsky reported.

Demovsky also said that both the Packers and Lloyd feel confident that he belongs on the field. 

There is a reason that they went out and traded a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for former third-round running back Kaleb Johnson, though.

There are no guarantees with Lloyd, so at least for now, the Packers need all the help they can get.

Johnson flamed out in his rookie season with the Steelers, but he was a prolific running back for the Iowa Hawkeyes. In 2024 at Iowa, he rushed 240 times for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Perhaps the Packers can cobble something together on potential alone, with both Lloyd and Johnson getting snaps.