GREEN BAY – Head Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that Packers running back Josh Jacobs would be on the practice field Wednesday and get a full week of work, with his status for Sunday's game in Detroit "to be determined."
Jacobs came off the commissioner's exempt list Monday, making him eligible to practice and play for the first time since the start of the regular season.
The NFL is continuing its investigation into Jacobs' case as it relates to the league's personal conduct policy after Jacobs pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges from a domestic incident. The league's final determination of potential discipline for Jacobs remains pending.
LaFleur didn't rule out Jacobs stepping right in and playing against the Lions this week, but he made no promises.
"We feel like he's in a pretty good spot," LaFleur said. "He's been training, but he's missed the exposure to football."
While on the exempt list the past six weeks, Jacobs has attended meetings and training sessions in the team facility. He's been "engaged," LaFleur said, and it's "possible" he could play right away.
How much he can help the Packers' struggling ground game is an open question. Green Bay is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry on the season and ranks at the bottom of the league with only 59.8 rushing yards per game.
That's not all on the running backs, as the blocking clearly hasn't been consistent enough. But Jacobs also has four seasons of 1,000 rushing yards and four of double-digit rushing TDs to his credit in this league, which tower over anything his young replacements have accomplished.
"He's an elite-level back. He's certainly not going to hurt it," LaFleur said, referring to the run production. "I think he can provide a spark."
On the defensive side, the Packers are also waiting for edge rusher Micah Parsons to return from his torn ACL, but LaFleur said he won't practice this week.
Following the Detroit game, the Packers have a short week with a Thursday night home game vs. Carolina coming up. Practices on short weeks are generally not full speed, but LaFleur didn't preclude Parsons' participation starting then if he gets the medical green light.
"There's things that you could do on a short week if you've got a guy like that you're trying to get primed and ready to go," he said. "But again, he's got to clear some hurdles yet before we get to that point."
