Josh Jacobs is still the kind of running back who can carry a backfield, but the Green Bay Packers are heading into OTAs with a different reality behind him. Because of a knee injury, Jacobs had 67 fewer touches in 2025 than he did in 2024, and Emanuel Wilson, the back who helped keep the offense afloat, is gone.
Wilson signed with the Seahawks in free agency, leaving a big void the Packers have to replace. When the team hit the practice field for the first time this week, Chris Brooks figured to be the No. 2 back, and the early signs point to Green Bay betting on what it already has rather than chasing a veteran or a draft pick.
That choice matters because Jacobs was not able to absorb the full burden last season. The knee injury reduced his workload, and Wilson’s development gave the Packers a steady answer when they needed one most. He handled the hard yards, kept the offense ahead of the sticks and made sure Green Bay could survive the stretches when Jacobs was not at full strength.
Brooks now gets the first crack at filling that role. In two seasons with the Packers, he has shown himself to be a physical pass protector with signs that he can also run with force. Over one season with the Dolphins and two with Green Bay, Brooks has carried the ball 82 times and caught 24 passes. He has 106 career touches, 34 fewer than Wilson had last season, and 13 of his 27 carries came in Week 18. His career average is 4.8 yards per carry.
Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich sounded comfortable with the plan. He said Brooks runs hard, likes the way he runs and brings the kind of mindset the position demands. Stenavich also said Brooks can wear all the different hats required at running back, protect and run the ball, and handle the work when the Packers line up with two tailbacks.
That versatility is the point. Green Bay is not asking Brooks to replace Wilson’s production all at once, but it does need someone who can keep drives on schedule if Jacobs misses snaps again. Brooks has the frame and the blocking profile to earn that trust, even if his resume is still short compared with the player who just left.
The tension for the Packers is straightforward: they chose not to bring in a veteran or draft a prospect, which means the answer has to come from within. If Brooks is ready, the backfield can hold together. If he is not, Green Bay will have to find another way to cover for the loss of Wilson while hoping Jacobs stays healthy enough to carry the load when it counts.
