Two significant announcements emerged from Matt LaFleur’s press conference on Friday in Green Bay: injured running back Josh Jacobs is set to practice again today, and the team is optimistic about defensive end Lukas Van Ness making his return after a five-game injury hiatus to play on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jacobs is contending with a knee bruise sustained in last week’s victory over the New York Giants. Although he missed practice on Wednesday, he was back on the field on Thursday, and both Jacobs and the Packers have not ruled out his participation against the Vikings if his knee improves in the coming days.
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«I’d say he’ll be limited (on Friday),» LaFleur commented. «We’ll evaluate his abilities. From our discussions, he feels quite good, so we’ll see how it goes when he gets back out there.»
Jacobs mentioned that his status will be genuinely decided before the game on Sunday. The decision will depend on the swelling in his knee, his comfort playing through the injury, and the risks of aggravating it, especially with a quick turnaround next week against the Detroit Lions on Thursday.
«It’s a joint decision every time,» LaFleur explained. «Firstly, he must be medically cleared. His confidence level will also play a part, and we’ll have discussions before making a decision.»
With Jacobs’ condition uncertain, the Packers are hopeful for Van Ness’s return, who was showing promise as a third-year edge rusher before he hurt his foot while sacking Joe Flacco in Week 6. He has sat out the last five games but has been practicing with limitations over the past two weeks.
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The Packers are looking towards a potential return on Sunday, contingent on how Van Ness feels following a week of practice.
«That’s the aim, we’ll see how he handles today,» LaFleur said.
Van Ness could provide a much-needed boost to the defensive line. In the first five games, Van Ness played a crucial role as a rotational player, both on the edge and inside during clear passing situations. He was also delivering the best performance of his career, generating 16 pressures in 104 pass-rushing snaps.
The final injury report for Week 12 will be released later on Friday afternoon. Jacobs is likely to be marked as questionable for playing. Van Ness might also be deemed questionable unless he fully participates in Friday’s practice.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers updates: Josh Jacobs to practice Friday, Van Ness expected to return vs. Vikings
