The Green Bay Packers are heading into Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings, their last game before a Week 11 bye, without running back Josh Jacobs.
He is dealing with a broken finger that will require surgery. But with the bye next week, the timeline for Jacobs is up in the air, leaving a potential IR designation up in the air as well.
However, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, the Packers have set a Friday surgery date for Jacobs, after which the team will finally get some clarity on Jacobs’ recovery timeline.
Packers set Josh Jacobs surgery date amid uncertain recovery timeline
“LaFleur said Josh Jacobs will have finger surgery tomorrow and they’ll know more then about recovery timetable,” Schneidman reports.
The Packers still don’t know when Jacobs will be able to come back from this broken finger. But this surgery should finally provide some clarity.
Jacobs is scheduled to have surgery on Friday, November 13, and his status going forward will be determined after said surgery.
If all goes well, there’s a chance he could miss just Week 10 and the Week 11 bye, and be ready to go for Week 12. The Packers play against the Los Angeles Rams on a Wednesday, so it might be a little tricky for the Packers to bring Jacobs back in Week 12.
MORE: Myles Garrett shows Rams why they traded for him in return vs. Commanders
A return to the lineup in Week 13 seems like the most likely scenario for Jacobs, but if he has to miss that game as well, then the Packers might have to consider placing him on injured reserve.
If they make that choice, then Jacobs would be forced to miss Weeks 10, 12, 13, and 14 before being eligible to come back from IR.
Based on the estimates of two to three weeks for this injury, Jacobs is more likely to avoid landing on IR than not. But it’s all dependent on how his surgery goes on Friday.
With Jacobs sidelined, the Packers will be relying on Kaleb Johnson, Marshawn Lloyd, and Pierre Strong Jr. They have all gotten some run this season, but after Johnson’s impressive Week 9, he might be the lead back for now.
