Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs will play on Sunday against the Chicago Bears but isn’t expecting to handle a heavy workload in the season finale.
Coach Matt LaFleur wants to play all his healthy players but it’s unclear if starters such as Jacobs will play the full game. The Packers have a playoff spot clinched, and Sunday’s result will only determine if Green Bay is the No. 6 seed or No. 7 seed.
Asked if he could get something around 30 carries against the Bears, Jacobs tried to be realistic about the situation.
“Realistically, I don’t see them doing that. Just being honest, being realistic. I don’t see me taking that many carries in this game,” Jacobs said Thursday. “I want to play, I’m playing, but I just don’t see myself taking 30 carries, I just don’t see it.”
Jacobs, who was named to his third Pro Bowl on Thursday, already has 295 carries — his second most in a season in his career. The Packers need him healthy and fresh come the first round of the postseason, which begins next weekend.
Jacobs, who is on the injury report with a wrist injury coming out of last week’s loss in Minnesota, wants to be out there with his healthy teammates in the finale. He’s clearly fine health-wise and energy-wise after 16 games.
“If I was battling something right now, it would be more of a decision, do I want to play or do I not? What I bring to this team, the energy, the tone setting, it’s important for guys to see me out there. If Jordan (Love) is playing, and all these other guys are playing, I need to be out there too.”
Jacobs ranks fourth in the NFL in carries (295), fifth in rushing yards (1,285), and tied for second in rushing touchdowns (14) entering the season finale.
Hear more from Jacobs below: