The running back is set for his 2026 season debut as Green Bay tries to fix a league-worst rushing attack.
Josh Jacobs is back. The Packers have activated their running back, putting him on track for his first appearance of the 2026 season as Green Bay heads to Detroit for a pivotal NFC North matchup against the Lions.
Jacobs returns to a backfield that has struggled all year. The Packers currently sit 32nd in total rushing yards this season with just 359, a number bad enough that it has become a punchline around the league. His comeback effectively serves as a real-time test of how much a single running back can change a team's fortunes on the ground.
There are complications beyond the field. Jacobs faced a legal situation earlier this year, and questions remain about a potentially damaging video that has not yet surfaced. Those issues have not stopped the Packers from clearing him to play, and he will have practiced only twice this season before suiting up against Detroit.
Whether he can immediately lift the rushing attack out of last place remains to be seen, but his activation alone changes the equation for Green Bay heading into a game that matters in the division race.