Josh Jacobs arrived in Green Bay in March 2024 as one of the most accomplished running backs available in free agency, signing a multi-year deal after five seasons with the Raiders. He quickly became the Packers’ primary ball carrier, rushing for over 1,300 yards and scoring 15 rushing touchdowns in 2024, earning a Pro Bowl selection and restoring the explosive production he showed when he led the NFL in rushing in 2022.

Quick snapshot

Josh Jacobs, born February 11, 1998, emerged from Alabama as a first round pick in 2019, and built a resume that includes an NFL rushing title, a First-team All-Pro selection, and multiple Pro Bowl nods. The move to Green Bay was framed as a win-now acquisition for a team that released a long-time starter to make salary cap room, and Jacobs delivered the heavy workload the Packers requested.

Career arc

College to the NFL

Jacobs played three seasons at Alabama, where he was part of a championship team and won an SEC title game MVP. Drafted 24th overall in 2019, he made an immediate impact as a rookie, earning recognition for his combination of power, contact balance and receiving ability out of the backfield.

Raiders years

With the Raiders, Jacobs posted multiple 1,000-yard seasons and became the franchise’s leading young rusher through his first five seasons. He won the NFL rushing title in 2022, a season that paired efficiency with a high volume workload, and he was named First-team All-Pro that year.

Green Bay: 2024 and immediate impact

Jacobs’ first season in Green Bay was a clear statement, he carried the offense with durability and production, while the team leaned on him as its feature back. He finished the year with 1,329 rushing yards on 301 carries, a 4.4 yards per carry average, and 15 rushing touchdowns, numbers that helped him return to Pro Bowl form and give the Packers a consistent run game.

"I feel great, just as long as I feel good, I feel like we can do whatever we can do," Jacobs said after a stretch in Green Bay, reflecting a player-focused desire to be a bell cow and to help the team win.

Playing style and strengths

Josh Jacobs is built to absorb contact and gain tough yards, he combines a low pad level with a powerful leg drive, and he has the hands to work as a checkdown and short-yardage receiving threat. Scouts and coaches point to:

• A strong yards-after-contact profile, showing a willingness and ability to finish runs.
• Reliable inside-zone and power-run chops, useful in short-yardage and second-effort situations.
• A developing pass-catching role that complements his rushing duties, though he is not primarily a third-down specialist.

Critics raise reasonable concerns about wear and tear, given his volume in multiple seasons, and question long-term durability for a 200-plus carry back in his late 20s.

2022 to 2024, a brief statistical comparison

This table shows the bounce-back pattern, with 2023 an outlier due to efficiency and injuries, and 2024 a return to heavy volume and scoring.

Contract and roster context

The Packers invested in Jacobs as a top free agent addition to replace a departing veteran, and the move reflected a strategic choice to prioritize a true feature back. Reported contract terms placed him in the multi-year, high single-digit millions annually range with a significant signing bonus, making him one of the better-paid running backs on the market at signing. That money bought Green Bay a proven, early-down grinder who can shoulder a heavy workload, but it also created pressure to extract value quickly, given the historical volatility of running back performance and market value.

Supporters argue the contract was worth it, since Jacobs delivered play and leadership immediately. Skeptics worry about long-term value, given the positional depreciation that often affects running backs as they age and carry heavier workloads.

Key games and moments

• Multiple multi-touchdown games in 2024, including a three-touchdown outing that underscored his short-yardage dominance.
• A heavy-lift performance across the regular season that helped the Packers reach the playoffs, though Green Bay fell in the Wild Card round to Philadelphia, a game where turnovers and situational issues overshadowed the running game.

Health and durability

Jacobs has shown durability through seasons of heavy use, but he has also had games and stretches limited by injury. Team reports in late 2025 noted knee stiffness and practice absences, a reminder of the physical toll the position extracts. The conversation around Jacobs often balances his toughness against the realistic possibility of missed time as carries accumulate.

Multiple viewpoints

• Proponents: Jacobs is a workhorse who creates a foundation for an offense, he controls the line of scrimmage, and he adds a leadership presence to a young roster.
• Opponents: The running back market and injury risk make long term investment risky, and a heavy workload could shorten peak production years.
• Neutral analysts: Jacobs gives Green Bay a clear offensive identity, but the team should protect him with rotation and offensive line investment to preserve his value.

What lies ahead

For the Packers, the calculus is straightforward, Jacobs must remain productive and available, and the team must manage his usage while continuing to build protection and playmakers. If Jacobs stays healthy and the line holds up, he can be a key factor in Green Bay’s playoff aspirations. If injuries or declining efficiency set in, the team will be tested on whether it can get similar output from the next man up.

Quick reference stats block

```python

Simple yards per carry calculation

carries = 301
rushing_yards = 1329
ypc = rushing_yards / carries
print(f"Yards per carry: {ypc:.2f}")
```

Accolades and honors

• NFL rushing leader, 2022
• First-team All-Pro, 2022
• Three-time Pro Bowl selection
• PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year voting recognition after a 2019 1,000-yard rookie season

Final takeaway

Josh Jacobs reestablished himself as an elite, high-volume running back in 2024, delivering the type of physical, dependable production Green Bay sought when they signed him. The move restored his standing after a down year, and it forced a league-wide conversation about the value of investing in proven rushers, despite the position’s uncertainty. For fans and evaluators, the key questions are familiar, and they hinge on volume management, health, and whether the Packers can surround Jacobs with enough support to translate his yards into deeper playoff runs.