Green Bay added Jacobs to the roster during his absence through the first six weeks of the season due to a domestic incident in May. An ankle injury to running back Chris Brooks, which landed him on injured reserve ahead of the Week 5 win over the Chicago Bears, left MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson as the remaining options at running back. Even with Brooks out for at least the next two weeks, Jacobs’ return will likely mean one running back among Strong, Lloyd, and Johnson will be released from the 53-man roster, with Strong appearing the most likely candidate.
Pierre Strong Jr. had joined the Packers’ practice squad on August 31 after spending the preseason with the team before Green Bay cut him to form the initial 53-man roster. The Packers promoted Strong to the active roster on October 9, a move tied to Brooks’ IR designation. There has been speculation from cap analyst Ken Ingalls that Strong could be released in the near term but would probably return to the practice squad if cut. An interesting note is that Strong could potentially earn more by not returning to the Packers for the rest of the season, should he walk away after Week 6.
Upon Jacobs’ activation, the Packers would have four running backs on the 53-man roster. If Strong were released, he could be re-signed to the practice squad. There is mention of potential termination pay that could offer Strong more money than returning to the practice squad, though this scenario is highly speculative.
There is also the broader question of Jacobs’ status with the league. The NFL is moving to suspend him if warranted, but a suspension of six games or fewer could involve him returning the game checks already paid through Week 6. There is ongoing legal activity surrounding a video referenced in court proceedings involving Jacobs, which the NFL may seek to obtain through public records laws. Depending on the outcome of those legal matters and any resulting league discipline, Strong could find himself back on the Packers’ active roster in the near future for an uncertain duration.
In Week 6, Strong appeared in his second game of the season for the Packers, recording 11 rushing attempts for 28 yards and five receptions for 39 yards against Dallas. He previously had five carries for seven yards and three receptions for 11 yards against the Bears the prior week. As of now, the team’s immediate plan remains contingent on Jacobs’ status and the ongoing evaluation of the running back group.
