The Packers will have their top two running backs in the lineup in Denver on Sunday.
Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson are both active for their game against the Broncos. Jacobs was listed as questionable with a knee injury and Wilson was added to the injury report on Saturday with an illness.
Defensive end Lukas Van Ness is also active. Running back Pierre Strong, offensive lineman Donovan Jennings, defensive lineman Quinton Bohanna, wide receiver Savion Williams, defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse, and defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell are inactive.
Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey will play after being listed as questionable due to a shoulder injury. Wide receiver Pat Bryant, quarterback Sam Ehlinger, cornerback Reese Taylor, linebacker Que Robinson, offensive lineman Geron Christian, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, and defensive lineman Sai’Vion Jones make up their inactive list.
Packers Clips
One of the most underaprecciated coaches in the NFL is Matt LaFleur. It’s time to show some appreciation for what the seven-year Packers coach has accomplished in the most important month of any and every NFL season,
LaFleur has complied a record of 21-4 in December. That matches Vince Lombardi at 21-4-2.
It’s an 84-percent success rate for LaFleur, the highest percentage in December with at least 15 games. A win today at Denver would push LaFleur to 22-4 and 84.6 percent.
The 9-3-1 Packers lead the NFC North. They have a realistic shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If LaFleur can keep doing what he’s done in December since getting the job in 2019, they could pull it off.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs’ knee kept him from practicing two days this week, but he returned to the field on Friday and he is set to play against the Broncos on Sunday.
According to multiple reports, Jacobs is expected to play in the matchup of division leaders in Denver. Jacobs was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.
Jacobs missed Week 12 due to his knee injury, but ran 37 times for 169 yards and a touchdown the last two weeks.
The Packers added No. 2 back Emanuel Wilson to the report on Saturday with an illness. He’s also listed as questionable and they elevated Pierre Strong from the practice squad to provide more depth in their offensive backfield.
Sam Ehlinger turned down an opportunity to join the Colts’ 53-player roster this week. The Broncos have done him a solid by promoting him from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Sunday.
The Colts made Ehlinger a sixth-round pick in 2021, and he spent his first four seasons in Indianapolis. He started three games in 2022.
But Ehlinger said he is “really happy” in Denver, which is why he chose to stay on the team’s practice squad.
It is his first elevation, but he was on the active roster for Week 1.
The Broncos also elevated wide receiver Michael Bandy to the game-day roster for Sunday’s game against the Packers.
They signed inside linebacker Jordan Turner from the practice squad to the active roster. Turner was out of elevations and had participated in 59 percent of the Broncos’ special teams snaps in the games he played and totaled three tackles.
In addition, the Broncos signed tight end Marcedes Lewis back to the practice squad after he was waived on Thursday.
The Packers added another running back to their injury report on Saturday.
Emanuel Wilson is now listed as questionable to play. An illness led to the change in status.
Josh Jacobs is also listed as questionable to play against the Broncos. Jacobs missed two days of practice with a knee injury and returned for a limited workout on Friday.
The Packers elevated running back Pierre Strong from the practice squad to provide them with more depth in the backfield. Strong has not appeared in any games during the 2026 season, but had 26 carries for 108 yards in 14 games for the Browns last season.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs was able to get back on the practice field on Friday.
But Jacobs’ availability for Sunday’s game against the Broncos is still uncertain.
Green Bay has listed Jacobs as questionable with the knee injury he has been battling through over the last few weeks.
Jacobs did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but was a limited participant on Friday.
In 12 games this year, Jacobs has rushed for 817 yards with 12 touchdowns. He’s also caught 31 passes for 251 yards.
Also on the report, receiver Savion Williams (foot), linebacker Kristian Welch (concussion), and defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (foot) are questionable.
Returning from IR, Brenton Cox Jr. (groin), defensive lineman Collin Oliver (hamstring), and running back MarShawn Lloyd (calf/hamstring) has been ruled out. With Lloyd, Green Bay added his hamstring designation on Friday and he was downgraded from limited on Thursday to a non-participant.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs is expected to be back on the practice field on Friday.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said at his Friday press conference that Jacobs will take part in practice on a limited basis. He is dealing with a knee injury that kept him from taking part in the team’s first two workouts of the week.
The issue is somehing that Jacobs has been dealing with for multiple weeks. He said on Wednesday that he went for an MRI after the knee stiffened up in last Sunday’s win over the Bears and that the test came back clean.
LaFleur did not say what designation Jacobs will carry into Sunday and the team’s injury report will be released later on Friday.
The Broncos have won 10 straight games and they have not lost at home this season, but the combination of those things isn’t enough for oddsmakers to install them as favorites to beat the Packers in Denver on Sunday.
Most sportsbooks have installed Green Bay as 2.5-point favorites coming off of their wins over the Lions and Bears the last two weeks. Some might be rankled by that perceived lack of respect for what the Broncos have accomplished this season, but edge rusher Nik Bonitto said he’s happy to have a little more motivation for a matchup of teams with thoughts of making a Super Bowl run this season.
“I love it. It fuels me, honestly,” Bonitto said, via Arnie Melendrez Stapleton of the Associated Press. “I like when people doubt us. They can stay on that side. We’ll go out and prove what we’ve got to prove.”
While last week’s win over the Raiders was deceptively close due to the Raiders kicking a field goal on the final play of a game they couldn’t win, seven other Broncos wins in the streak were legitimate one-score victories. The number of tight games they’ve played likely contributes to the doubt that Bonitto is seeing, but wins rarely come easy in the NFL and the Broncos’ ability to keep picking them up speaks to how formidable they’ll be against the Packers or anyone else.
Even though the Steelers already defeated the Colts this year, there’s one implication of Philip Rivers’ return that makes Pittsburgh’s current quarterback smile.
“Well, I’m not the oldest guy in the league — love that,” Aaron Rodgers said Thursday, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.
At 44, Rivers has two years on Rodgers, who turned 42 earlier this month.
“It’s pretty incredible, though,” Rodgers said of Rivers’ return to the Colts this week. “He’s been out for, I believe, four full seasons, plus this part of this season. I was laughing because a couple of my buddies hit me up asking what I would do in that situation, and I said without missing a beat, ‘I’m retired, I’m staying retired.’ So, big credit to Phil.”
Rodgers was drafted a year after Rivers in 2005. The two didn’t have many battles during their time with the Packers and Chargers, given that they played in different conferences. But Rodgers noted he’s long admired Rivers’ game from afar.
“I’ve been a fan of his forever,” Rodgers said. “I’ve known him a little bit over the years. I’ve just loved the way that he competes, plays. Again, not the most gifted player, but cerebral as all get out. Hilarious trash talker. I wish him nothing but the best. I’ve been a fan of his for a while, and I hope he goes out and it’s just like riding a bike and he can jump right back in the saddle — and I expect him to.”
Packers running back Josh Jacobs missed his second straight practice on Thursday and shared some information about his knee injury when he spoke to reporters later in the day.
Jacobs said that he went for an MRI on Monday to see if there was any structural damage to his knee after experiencing discomfort during last Sunday’s loss to the Bears. The scan came back clear, but Jacobs is still managing the injury.
“It’s just a buildup,” Jacobs said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “I didn’t get hit on it last game. Towards the second half of the game last week, it started to get stiff. Just running around, just casual, swelling. That’s the main thing, really. Just trying to get the fluid out of there.”
There’s been no determination about Jacobs’ status for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Friday will bring an injury designation, but things could remain up in the air until close to kickoff.
