Strong cut by GB after Kaleb Johnson trade

Brooks opened team drills as the Packers’ starting running back on Wednesday. Fellow backup RB Pierre Strong then subbed in, taking first-team reps as well. Starting RB Josh Jacobs was arrested on Tuesday for domestic abuse and was not present. Presumed RB MarShawn Lloyd practiced on Tuesday, but was limited to individual drills for an undisclosed reason on Wednesday. Injuries derailed Lloyd’s first two NFL seasons, so his absence is worth monitoring.

It’s possible this is just a maintenance-related coaching decision, but it is still slightly concerning. Injuries have limited Lloyd to just 10 offensive snaps through two NFL seasons. Packers starting RB Josh Jacobs was arrested on Tuesday and was not present on Wednesday, allowing the backups to take first-team snaps. Per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Lloyd “took part in team drills during Tuesday’s closed session but did only individual work Wednesday.” Packers RB Chris Brooks began team drills with the first-team offense before subbing out for RB Pierre Strong. The Packers had the day off on Thursday and will resume practicing tomorrow. The Packers “remain optimistic that the powerful and speedy Lloyd can repay the team for their patience,” but he needs to retake the field soon if he hopes to prove his reliability. Hopefully, Lloyd is back in action.

Jacobs this week was arrested in Wisconsin on domestic abuse chargers. The 28-year-old back was booked in jail for battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim. Jacobs denies the allegations. If the Packers were to release Jacobs — who has two years and $25 million remaining on his current deal — they would absorb a doable $6.2 million hit to the salary cap for 2026. Jacobs could be facing team and/or league discipline in the coming months, and could miss part of the regular season if the NFL’s investigation into the domestic abuse allegations warrants a suspension. Other running backs on the Packers depth chart include Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, and Pierre Strong.

Havrisik hit 4-of-4 field goals and 7-of-9 extra points this year, and the Packers seemed to be developing him as kicker of the future — whatever that means in the NFL — while letting him stay on the practice squad. With Brandon McManus’ job officially under scrutiny, it’s possible he eventually gets the Packers kicker gig.

The team elevated RB Pierre Strong from the practice squad in an associated move, which comes as both Josh Jacobs and Wilson are listed as questionable. Stay tuned ahead of the team’s inactives Sunday.

Also inactive for the Packers are RB Pierre Strong Jr., G Donovan Jennings, T Anthony Belton, TE Ben Sims, DL Lukas Van Ness, and DL Devonte Wyatt. McManus will miss another game due to his quad issue, meaning Lucas Havrisik will kick for Green Bay against the Cardinals. Strong was elevated from the practice squad, but with Josh Jacobs (calf/illness) active, he is inactive this week. Meanwhile, Van Ness will miss this game due to a foot issue that kept him out of practice all week.

This move is a bit surprising with Quinshon Judkins still unsigned. Perhaps that signing is just around the corner, or the team just feels good about Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson. In two preseason games, Strong rushed 18 times for 18 yards and caught 5-of-6 targets for 28 yards.

In his third season as a pro, Strong rushed 26 times for 108 scoreless yards while adding 14 receptions for another 104 yards on 22 targets. The former fourth-round pick still has one more year left on the rookie deal he signed in 2022 after being drafted by the Patriots, but will likely have to battle for a roster spot in training camp, whether it’s with the Browns or somewhere else.

Backup Pierre Strong remains sidelined with a concussion. That leaves just D’Onta Foreman to man the backfield if neither is able to practice on Friday. Foreman would be a volume-based RB3 if neither back plays in Week 18 versus the Ravens.

We suspected as much after he left Week 17’s game early. Jerome Ford (ankle) also dealt with an injury last weekend, leaving D’Onta Foreman as the lone available back at one point. It feels unlikely Strong Jr. will clear protocol before Saturday. If not, he will finish the year with a 26/108/0 rushing line and a 14/104 receiving line on 22 targets. He’ll be entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.