Josh Jacobs set for finger surgery Friday, timeline TBD

Thursday's update from LaFleur didn't give Packers fans much, other than a date for the surgery.

Matt Schneidman

@mattschneidman

LaFleur said Josh Jacobs will have finger surgery tomorrow and they’ll know more then about recovery timetable.

Here's how it happened. Jacobs broke the finger in the Week 9 blowout win over the Patriots and was gone in the 1st quarter after 4 carries for 5 yards. He tried to go back in. It didn't work. "He tried to go back in and he had no grip strength," LaFleur said Monday. A running back who can't hold onto the football can't play, and that's the end of it.

On Monday the plan was surgery "sometime this week," and the return date was to be determined. LaFleur also didn't rule out injured reserve, saying "everything's on the table." That's a big deal, because IR means at least 4 games without your RB1 in the middle of the season. Now it's Friday, and the real answer comes after that.

Jacobs was on Thursday's injury report too. He was 1 of 6 Packers who didn't practice on a cold day in Green Bay.

Matt Schneidman

@mattschneidman

Not practicing today for the Packers on a chilly day in Green Bay: Javon Bullard Josh Jacobs Zaire Franklin Sean Rhyan Josh Whyle Lukas Van Ness

Javon Bullard, Zaire Franklin, Sean Rhyan, Josh Whyle and Lukas Van Ness were also out. That's a lot of names to sort through with the Vikings up next. In the backfield, Kaleb Johnson already got his audition against New England and ran for a career-high 68 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Pierre Strong Jr. picked up 22 yards on 8 carries. If Jacobs misses real time, Johnson's workload is the thing to watch.

If you want to know what finger surgery on a running back actually involves, the Packers beat had Dr. Chad Zehms on to walk through what comes next for Jacobs.

Matt Schneidman

@mattschneidman

What’s next for Josh Jacobs after breaking his finger? Dr. Chad Zehms joined The Green Bay Beat to discuss. Presented by @baycareclinic t.co/cJnGp1d5gQ

So the 2 numbers that matter are still blank: how many weeks, and whether the Packers burn an IR spot on him. Everybody finds out after Friday. Until then, Kaleb Johnson should be getting ready to carry the ball a lot against Minnesota.