The $20.8 Million Question: Josh Jacobs' Declining Numbers Are Haunting the Packers' 2026 Season

Alright 12s, buckle up because what's going on with the Green Bay Packers' running back room is wild, and frankly, a masterclass in how *not* to build a roster. We usually say you get what you pay for in the NFL, right? Well, for the Packers' running back depth chart, they've got nearly $21 million sunk into the position, and what they're getting back right now is a whole lot of head-scratching questions as we look towards the 2026 season.

Green Bay's Financial Gamble at Running Back

When you dive into the numbers from OverTheCap.com, the Packers' spending usually looks pretty balanced across the roster. They're 13th in offensive spending and 21st on defense. You see them slotting in reasonably for quarterback at 10th, receiver at 20th, and even defensive tackle at 13th. But then you hit running back, and BAM. They are third in the entire league, with almost $20.8 million of their cap dollars tied up in that one position group. That's a huge chunk of change! You expect a massive return on investment for that kind of cash, but instead, the Emerald City knows the feeling, they're staring down a huge level of uncertainty.

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A big chunk of that cash, about $14.543 million to be exact, is riding on Josh Jacobs alone. That makes him the second-highest paid running back in the league for 2026, just behind Jonathan Taylor. So, with that kind of commitment, you'd bet on elite, game-changing production, right? Think again.

Jacobs' Jaw-Dropping Dip in Production

Here's where it gets alarming for Green Bay fans. Jacobs, who just turned 28 in February, saw across-the-board deductions in his performance last season, in 2025, compared to his 2024 debut with the team. And I mean *every single area* took a hit. This isn't cherry-picking stats, folks, this is the whole bowl. Let's look at the numbers from Sports Info Solutions:

• His rushing yards dropped from 1,329 in 2024 to a paltry 929 in 2025.
• Rushing yards per game fell from 78.2 to 61.9.
• Yards per carry went down from 4.4 to 4.0.
• Even his yards after contact per carry dipped, from 3.1 to 2.9.
• He broke 60 tackles in 2024, but only 42 in 2025.
• The percentage of carries with a broken tackle also dropped from 19.9 percent to 17.9 percent.
• Worringly, his percentage of carries with a fumble *increased* from 1.3 percent to 1.8 percent.
• And it wasn't just on the ground. His receiving game took a hit too: yards per catch dropped from 9.5 to 7.8, and yards after catch per reception went from 11.3 to 8.6.
• Even the percentage of his catches that resulted in a first down plummeted from 41.7 percent to a mere 22.2 percent. Ouch.

There isn't a single statistic where Jacobs improved last season compared to 2024. Not one. That's a rough look for your star running back, especially one commanding such a hefty price tag.

What's Next For That Green Bay Backfield?

Now, to be fair, there are a couple of caveats. Jacobs did suffer a knee injury against the Giants that either kept him off the field or limited him through the end of the 2025 season. It's totally possible that was just a regular injury, the kind that happens to every player, and not a sign of wear and tear catching up from his seven NFL seasons. But even with that in mind, the sheer breadth of decline in his numbers is a massive red flag. The Packers are heading into the 2026 season with nearly $21 million invested in a position group that, right now, looks like a major question mark. They need Jacobs to rediscover his 2024 form, or that massive investment is going to feel like a colossal mistake. What happens next for that Green Bay backfield? We'll be watching to see if they can turn this uncertainty into production.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.