The Green Bay Packers activated running back Josh Jacobs to the 53-man roster ahead of their Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions. Green Bay had until Saturday to make the move if it wanted Jacobs available against Detroit, and the front office did exactly that. Jacobs will be eligible to play against the Lions on Sunday.

Jacobs missed the first six games of the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt List after an arrest in May. The NFL lifted his stint on the list Monday, but the league also gave the Packers a one-week roster exemption. During that window, Jacobs wouldn’t count toward the 53-man roster unless the team chose to activate him.

Technically, the Packers had until Monday to make a decision. To have Jacobs available against the Lions, though, they needed to activate him by Saturday. They didn’t wait. The team also had open roster spots, so it didn’t need a corresponding move to bring Jacobs back.

Jacobs comes back at an important time 

Jacobs is one of the most impactful offensive players on the roster, and his absence showed. The Packers haven’t run the ball effectively through the first six games, and that has kept the offense from operating under the circumstances head coach Matt LaFleur and his staff wanted.

The numbers are stark. Green Bay ranks 32nd in rushing EPA through six weeks, dead last in the NFL. Jacobs won’t fix every issue by himself, but he gives the Packers something they haven’t had all season: a proven lead back who can carry a heavy workload and finish drives near the goal line.

Jacobs’ track record in Green Bay

Jacobs has played two seasons with the Packers, and both were productive. In 2024, he had 1,671 scrimmage yards and 16 total touchdowns, plus a Pro Bowl selection. Last year, the former first-rounder had 1,211 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns.

It wasn’t necessarily a surprise that Green Bay moved quickly once the league cleared him. A Pro Bowl-caliber running back is available, the rushing attack ranks last in the league, and a division rival is next on the schedule.

The bigger question is how much the Packers will lean on Jacobs in his first game back. He hasn’t played a regular season snap since last season, so the coaching staff could ease him in rather than handing him a full workload immediately. Even a partial role, however, would be an upgrade over what the running game has produced so far with a combination of MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong, and Kaleb Johnson.

Some 53-man roster and PS moves

Green Bay also promoted wide receiver Coleman Owen from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster. He had been elevated for gameday last week, but this is a standard promotion.

Owen has handled punt return duties while Skyy Moore is on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The second-year offensive piece played against the Dallas Cowboys last week, and the matchup with the Lions will be his second game for the Packers.

Green Bay also activated defensive tackle Jordon Riley from the physically unable to perform list and elevated edge defender Arron Mosby from the practice squad for gameday.

NFL practice squad rules

The NFL increased the practice squad size during COVID-19 and kept some of the adjusted rules. Of the 16 players, 10 must have up to two accrued seasons, while the other six have no restrictions. There’s also an extra spot for a player with an International Pathway Program exemption, which Green Bay is using for German kicker Lenny Krieg.

Throughout the season, teams can elevate practice squad players for gameday. Each player can be elevated three times for the same team without being a member of the active 53-man roster. After the game, the player reverts to the PS.

Packers’ practice squad

• Mekhi Becton G/T
• David Blay Jr. DT
• Dalton Cooper T
• Elijah Culp CB
• Drake Dabney TE
• Jack Dingle LB
• Kahlef Hailassie S
• Domani Jackson CB
• Nyjalik Kelly EDGE
• Lenny Krieg K (IPP)
• Arron Mosby EDGE
• Isaiah Neyor WR
• Quincy Skinner Jr. WR
• Mazi Smith DT
• Kedon Slovis QB
• Dillon Wade G