GREEN BAY – Packers running back Josh Jacobs needs surgery on the finger he fractured at New England and will be sidelined for now, Head Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday.
It's unclear how long Jacobs will be out, but LaFleur didn't rule out the possibility of placing him on injured reserve, which would be a minimum four-week absence.
"It should happen sometime this week," LaFleur said of the surgery, explaining that it's not feasible for Jacobs to play without the procedure. He had four carries against the Patriots before the injury.
"I don't think he could. He tried last night. He tried to go back in and he had no grip strength."
With MarShawn Lloyd missing the Patriots game with a knee injury and the trading deadline looming Tuesday afternoon, LaFleur said the Packers aren't necessarily looking to make a move to boost the running back position.
He said there's a "good chance" Chris Brooks can return from injured reserve this week after getting back on the practice field last week. He also was encouraged by the effort Kaleb Johnson gave against the Patriots, rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
That was the best individual performance by a Packers running back this season. Johnson's 34-yard run in the second half was Green Bay's longest rush of the season, and Johnson also owns the second-longest, a 31-yarder at Tampa Bay in Week 4.
"I thought he did a good job," LaFleur said of Johnson vs. the Pats. "When there were lanes there, he hit it. Obviously he broke a couple explosive runs. That was definitely encouraging to see."
Getting Brooks back this week would also be a big help in pass protection against Minnesota's blitz-heavy defense. He's more experienced in the Packers' protection schemes than Johnson, who arrived via trade at the end of training camp, and Brooks provides another pass-catching target out of the backfield as well.
Pierre Strong Jr. provided eight carries for 22 yards against New England, too.
Elsewhere on the injury front, linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper may not miss any more time due to the chest injury that kept him out for all but two snaps of the New England game.
LaFleur said Hopper was "having a hard time" with something in his chest about 90 minutes before kickoff. Nick Niemann replaced him and played 59 snaps on defense as well as 25 on special teams.
"That kind of took us by surprise yesterday," LaFleur said of Hopper's sudden ailment. "That was certainly a big blow in that situation.
"But I've got to give a lot of credit to Nick Niemann for his ability to go in there and play the entire game defensively and not miss a snap on special teams as well."
