Packers Clips
After Packers running back Josh Jacobs scored his first of two touchdowns on Thursday night, he seemed to celebrate by pretending to be in handcuffs. That sparked widespread criticism of his apparent effort to trivialize the event that resulted in his May 2026 arrest — an altercation that resulted in a no-contest plea to battery of a female.
Jacobs explained the celebration after the game, claiming it was part of a more elaborate display that the TV cameras didn’t fully capture, one that had nothing to do with Jacobs’s arrest.
A more lengthy video of the celebration was surfaced, and it doesn’t seem to support Jacobs’s explanation.
At first, Jacobs has his hands behind his back. Later, Jacobs moves his hands to the front. Teammate Savion Williams seems to unlock the handcuffs that Jacobs says weren’t handcuffs.
Even if Jacobs is telling the truth, it’s a stunning lack of awareness as to how the celebration would be perceived. And his decision to react to the question by complaining that Prime Video showed “fuckin’ one second” of the celebration and that the media is “gonna make it something that it wasn’t” is hardly the kind of contrition he should be displaying, given the broader circumstances.
After Sunday’s loss to the Lions, Packers safety Xavier McKinney had some things to say about the officiating. And he knew he was inviting a fine.
After Thursday night’s win over the Panthers, McKinney confirmed that he was fined.
Via Rob Demovsky of ESPN, McKinney didn’t disclose the specific amount. He did say it wasn’t less than the minimum of $25,000.
“I make enough money so I’ll be OK,” McKinney said.
McKinney said it was worth it to support the team.
Meanwhile, it’s unknown whether Raiders minority owner Tom Brady was fined for his criticism of the officials during that same game.
Through it all, the NFL essentially has conceded that referee Alex Moore’s crew didn’t meet the standard, by flexing Moore’s crew out of Sunday night’s game between the Eagles and Commanders.
After scoring a touchdown on Thursday night, Packers running back Josh Jacobs put his hands behind his back, which many observers interpreted as mimicking himself in handcuffs. Which would be in poor taste, given that Jacobs is playing only his second game of the season after he was put on paid leave following a no contest plea in connection with a domestic violence accusation brought by his girlfriend.
Jacobs denied that’s what he was doing.
Jacobs said the broadcast of Thursday night’s game didn’t show his full touchdown celebration, which he and teammate Savion Williams planned, and which was inspired by a gospel song.
“They didn’t even get the whole celebration,” Jacobs said. “Shit, it was fuckin’ one second that they just showed me. But anyways, me and Savion came up with the celebration, if they would have seen the whole celebration. Basically, last week, we said the first celebration, when I score, I was gonna thank God, that’s what I did last week. Second was going to be ‘Break Every Chain.’ It’s a gospel song. That was gonna be the next celebration. It’s a correlation. The media is gonna run with it. They’re gonna make it something that it wasn’t. But it is what it is.”
Although Jacobs’ paid leave is over, he remains subject to a potential unpaid suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson left Lambeau Field in an ambulance on Thursday night after breaking a rib and spitting up blood, but he later returned to the field and said after the game that he never doubted whether he should play through it.
“I was spitting up some blood or something like that, so the doctor said I had to go get a CT,” Watson said. “I was trying to beg him to not make me do that. I got a rib, that’s all, but the other stuff was good. No internal bleeding, nothing like that.”
Watson said he would always play through pain if he possibly could.
“Before I even left I wanted to get back out there,” Watson said. “This means everything to me, to be out there on the football field. I’ve had injuries I was not able to go on the field for, and I’ve missed significant time due to injuries, so any chance I get to go out there on the football field, I’m going to be out there on the football field.”
Watson finished the game with eight catches for 113 yards: Six catches for 100 yards before going to the hospital, and two catches for 13 yards after returning from the hospital.
Watson said his philosophy is simple: “If you can get up, you’ve got to get up.”
The Milwaukee Brewers celebrated their World Series with a trip to Lambeau Field. The Packers joined in the celebration with a 27-19 victory over the Panthers.
It was closer than it should have been.
Trey Smack missed an extra point; the Packers turned it over three times, including a fumbled kickoff; and Green Bay let Carolina climb back into it after leading 27-10 midway through the third quarter. It’s the same problems the Packers have faced over the past two seasons — poor special teams play and choking big leads.
The Panthers outgained the Packers 109 to 32 in the fourth quarter.
The Packers didn’t blow this one, though, moving to 5-3. The Panthers fell to 3-4.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young threw incomplete on fourth-and-5 at midfield with 2:41 left in their best chance for a comeback.
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson left in an ambulance for a local hospital with 9:11 remaining in the first half. He had his chest injury examined there, and doctors cleared him to return. Watson returned to Lambeau Field in the passenger seat of the ambulance and had a clutch 7-yard reception on third-and-2 with 2:33 left. It allowed the Packers to run down the clock, with Carolina getting the ball back with only 22 seconds left.
Young was sacked six times, including by rookie Dani Dennis-Sutton with four seconds remaining.
Young, who was hit nine times, was 23-of-41 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Chuba Hubbard had 22 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and seven catches for 38 yards. Tetairoa McMillan had six catches for 58 yards.
Ryan Fitzgerald made field goals of 39 and 50 yards.
The Packers outgained the Panthers 354 to 258.
Love finished 30-of-41 for 288 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. His touchdowns covered 12 yards to Tucker Kraft, 24 yards to Matthew Golden and 4 yards to Josh Jacobs. Jacobs also scored on a 1-yard run.
Jacobs rushed for 39 yards on 21 carries and caught six passes for 13 yards.
Watson had eight catches for 113 yards and Golden seven for 79.
Packers wide receiver Coleman Owen fumbled the opening kickoff, and Watson lost a fumble in the first half. The Panthers, though, got only a field goal out of the three takeaways.
The Packers led 27-10 midway through the third quarter. They lead only 27-19 with 5:37 left.
Carolina got a 50-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald with 4:07 left in the third quarter. Two drives later, the Panthers were within one score.
Jalen Coker caught a 26-yard touchdown from Bryce Young on fourth-and-3. They also converted two third downs during the 12-play, 70-yard drive.
The 2-point try failed as Bryce Young’s pass was deflected.
Young is 21-of-37 for 196 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was cleared at a local hospital and is on his way back to Lambeau Field, Kaylee Hartung of Amazon Prime reports. The Packers still list Watson as questionable to return.
Watson was injured on a 53-yard reception with 9:11 remaining in the first half. He appeared on land on the ball as Panthers cornerback Will Lee landed on him.
Watson was sent in an ambulance to a hospital for further evaluation, with the sternoclavicular joint as a possible concern.
The Packers initially listed Watson as questionable to return with a chest injury.
He has six catches for 100 yards tonight, giving him a career-high 695 receiving yards for the season.
The Panthers have ruled out Lee with a hamstring injury. He was injured on the same play as Watson.
The Packers have ruled out tight end Josh Whyle (concussion).
Packers running back Josh Jacobs scored on a 4-yard reception from Jordan Love with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter to take a 27-10 lead.
UPDATE 10:25 P.M. ET: Watson has returned to the game.
The Packers have two turnovers and a missed extra point. They lead the Panthers 20-10 at halftime.
Green Bay outgained Carolina 227 to 87 in the first half, with Jordan Love going 18-of-24 for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tucker Kraft and a 24-yard touchdown to wide receiver Matthew Golden.
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, who had six catches for 100 yards, was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation of a chest injury. He was injured on a 53-yard reception, with Panthers cornerback Will Lee injuring his hamstring on the same play. Lee needed a cart to get into the X-ray room.
Josh Jacobs scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Packers would lead by more if Trey Smack hadn’t missed his first PAT try off the left upright, his eighth missed kick of the season. Green Bay also lost two fumbles.
Packers wide receiver Coleman Owen fumbled the opening kickoff, and linebacker Nick Hampton recovered for the Panthers. Carolina gained only 8 yards in the drive before Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Watson fumbled on an 8-yard reception, a fumble forced by safety Nick Scott and recovered by Bobby Okereke. The Panthers, though, didn’t take advantage of their second takeaway.
Bryce Young has taken only two sacks, but the Packers have constantly pressured him and linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper intercepted Young. Young is 10-of-19 for 65 yards.
Chuba Hubbard has 11 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 21 yards.
Christian Watson caught a 53-yard bomb from Jordan Love with 9:11 remaining in the second quarter.
The Packers wide receiver appeared to land on the ball before Panthers rookie cornerback Will Lee landed on him. Both players remained on the ground after the play.
Watson was holding his chest, and Lee was writhing in pain while grabbing his left hamstring.
Lee needed a cart from the sideline to get to the training room, as he was unable to put weight on his leg. Watson walked to the training room, but since was transported via ambulance to a local hospital for precautionary reasons.
The Packers initially listed Watson as questionable to return with a chest injury.
He has six catches for 100 yards tonight, giving him a career-high 695 receiving yards for the season.
The Packers converted Watson’s big catch into a touchdown on Josh Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown run. Green Bay leads 13-10.
The Panthers list Lee as doubtful to return with a hamstring injury.
Chau Smith-Wade replaced Lee, who is the fourth cornerback the Panthers have lost. Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson and Akayleb Evans are on injured reserve.
The Panthers have had three possessions and 21 plays. Chuba Hubbard has 12 touches.
The running back has carried it nine times for 30 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run, and has added three receptions for 15 yards.
Hubbard’s scoring run on the first play of the second half has the Panthers on top 10-6.
Packers wide receiver Coleman Owen fumbled the opening kickoff, and linebacker Nick Hampton recovered for the Panthers. Carolina gained only 8 yards in the drive before Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
After the Packers scored a touchdown, the Panthers went 65 yards on 13 plays. They picked up a fourth-and-1 on Hubbard’s 2-yard run.
