The Green Bay Packers surprised a lot of people this offseason when they released running back Aaron Jones and signed free agent Josh Jacobs to serve as his replacement. Jacobs will certainly have big shoes to fill as Jones was a key component of the Packers both on and off the field. But in addition to the age gap between the two backs, there is one other big difference the Packers hope to get from Josh Jacobs that they couldn’t get from Jones.
One Big Difference the Packers Hope to Get from Josh Jacobs: Size
We already know Jacobs is three years younger than his predecessor but there is also a difference in size between the two backs. Jones stands 5’9” and weighs 208 pounds. Meanwhile, Jacobs is 5’10” and 223 pounds.
The difference may seem minimal at first glance, but over the course of a season, it adds up. Jones has been in the NFL since 2017. In those seven seasons, he has played in every game just twice, 2019 and 2022. Injuries kept him sidelined in at least one game in each of the other five seasons.
Head coach Matt LaFleur was always concerned about giving Jones too many touches and wearing him down. In his seven seasons in the league, Jones has had 20 or more carries in a game just 10 times. The Packers were 9-1 in those games. He has never carried the ball more than 25 times in a game.
Jacobs By Comparison
While Jones has been limited in his touches, Jacobs has been more durable. Since coming into the NFL in 2019, Jacobs has played in 73 games. He has 20 or more carries in 29 of them and more than 25 carries in a game in 13 games.
The Raiders, who have not won nearly as consistently as the Packers during this period, went 22-7 in those games. In games he ran more than 25 times, the Raiders went 11-2.
With his added size, Jacobs is built to take more of a workload than Jones. He is able to be on the field for more plays and do a better job of establishing a tone for the offense.
One Big Difference the Packers Hope to Get from Josh Jacobs: The Impact
Just because Jacobs is capable of carrying the ball more frequently doesn’t mean LaFleur will constantly give him the ball more often. The team still won’t want to wear out it’s number one running back. They will also want to give defenses a change of pace by inserting a different back into the game in appropriate situations.
We will still see the backups, whether it’s A.J. Dillon, who is a different type of runner than Jacobs, or rookie MarShawn Lloyd who has a similar style, or Emanuel Wilson who has his own combination of size and speed.
However, when the Packers need to close out a game, LaFleur can be more confident that he can hand the ball to his best running back and get the necessary carries or catches from him to close out a game without worrying as much about overuse.
Another Difference
The other hope for the Packers is that Jacobs can be more durable than Jones was. The additional size plus the three-year age difference will make that more likely. Last season, Jones missed six games and was limited in many others. Having a running back who can play more games will allow the offense to operate at full capacity more often.
Of course, while the odds may be better, the Packers still have to see whether Jacobs can stay healthy and be a productive workhorse back. Green Bay hasn’t really had one since Eddie Lacy was in his prime a decade ago.
The Packers will certainly miss Jones, but now Jacobs has a chance to make his own mark on the offense. If he does, he could give the team some things Jones wasn’t consistently able to accomplish.
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