“I’m gonna do that until proven otherwise,” the head coach reaffirmed his trust on Jacobs per The Athletic‘s Matt Schneidman. The outlook for the player does not seem promising in the short term.

On the other hand, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said they’re going to “lean on the legal process” and “take things as they come.” It will be a matter of seeing, as the days go by, what will ultimately happen with No. 8 and his future with the franchise.

Jacobs out of the Packers’ active roster

The Packers’ facilities were thrown into turmoil recently after it was revealed that Jacobs had been placed on the NFL commissioner exempt list. Matt LaFleur’s plans ahead of the start of a new season were disrupted because he will be unable to count on his biggest star in the backfield until further notice.

The coach now has only three options for Jordan Love to have a running game ally. The first of them is MarShawn Lloyd, while further down the depth chart are the names of Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson.

A new hope for Green Bay

Matt LaFleur will have to redesign his offense with the 2026 NFL season in mind. The Packers want to reclaim the NFC North, and to do so, they will have to get off to a strong start.

• Week 1, at Minnesota Vikings (September 13)
• Week 2, at New York Jets (September 20)
• Week 3, vs Atlanta Falcons (September 24)
• Week 4, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (October 4)
• Week 5, vs Chicago Bears (October 11)

“I fully anticipate him being a member of our team,” the head coach revealed to the media following his team’s final preseason victory. On September 13, Green Bay will visit U.S. Bank Stadium.

“I can’t really comment on that because I don’t know,” LaFleur stated on the RB’s availability. Jacobs is one of the key leaders of the Packers’ backfield and a reliable target for Jordan Love. Now, it remains to be seen whether he will ultimately be available for his team’s season opener.

The Packers’ powerful backfield

Although Jacobs has established himself as one of the most powerful running backs in the NFC in recent years, the Packers can take pride in having a formidable backfield to lean on. Love, who frequently relies on this group, will have this area of the field well covered.

The first name behind No. 8 on the depth chart is MarShawn Lloyd, followed by Chris Brooks further down the list. Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez, and Jaden Nixon round out the group.

A good final test for Green Bay

The Packers wrapped up their 2026 preseason in absolute thriller fashion, pulling off a wild 42-38 comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field. With Matt LaFleur resting his starters to evaluate final roster spots, rookie quarterback Kyle McCord emerged as the clear star of the night.

Down by 11 points late in the fourth quarter, McCord put on a clinic, finishing 22-of-35 for 226 yards, four touchdowns, and a 119.5 passer rating—including two clutch touchdown passes to Kisean Johnson in the final minutes to seal the victory.

Between McCord’s poise under pressure and dynamic playmaking from receivers J.Michael Sturdivant (6 catches, 112 yards, 1 TD) and Will Sheppard (81-yard punt return TD), Green Bay’s offense showed absurd depth, giving LaFleur plenty of positive headaches as front-office roster cuts loom.

“I just got beat up a little bit,” the cornerback said, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “Nothing serious at all. I was trying to go back in. Just being precautionary. I’m fine. Nothing to worry about. I wanted to go back in.”

Selected with the No. 52 pick in the second round out of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Cisse is widely expected to be considered for the starting RCB role. The battle with Carrington Valentine will be neck and neck, and being in top physical condition will be key to winning it.

LaFleur’s options in the secondary

Matt LaFleur is placing a lot of trust in his defense, particularly in a secondary that can provide not only talent, but also physicality, dynamism, and versatility. With that in mind, these are the names the coach will have at his disposal.

Cornerbacks

Safeties

What’s next for the Packers?

The Packers opened the preseason with a convincing 28-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, while their second outing ended on a high note with a 33-13 victory over the Denver Broncos. Now, their final preseason game will take place on August 28 at Lambeau Field against the Arizona Cardinals.

From there, all the focus will shift to the start of the 2026 NFL season, which will be anything but easy. They will have to visit U.S. Bank Stadium to face the Minnesota Vikings in a divisional rivalry game on September 13.

“I mean, he’s got to hit all the benchmarks along the way, and if that’s the case, then absolutely,” LaFleur told reporters during his press conference on Sunday. The coach does not want to rush anything with his tight end, which is why he remains cautious about his recovery.

“I think we’re obviously taking it slow with him because he’s such an important player to us,” LaFleur also added about Kraft. “But, yeah, I think he handled everything great.”

The turning point for Tucker Kraft

During the Green Bay Packers‘ 16-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers on November 2, 2025, Tucker Kraft suffered a devastating season-ending knee injury. In the third quarter, Kraft was moving behind the line of scrimmage on a blocking assignment when he accidentally collided with the backside of teammate Sean Rhyan. The awkward impact resulted in a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), abruptly halting what was shaping up to be a Pro Bowl campaign.

A fearsome offense for the Packers

Jordan Love’s NFL career clearly still has no limits. The dream in Green Bay becomes even bigger when considering what the quarterback could accomplish with all of his offensive weapons healthy and performing at their highest level.

On the ground, Josh Jacobs will look to continue causing problems out of the backfield. Through the air, the Packers not only have players of the caliber of Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, but they also added UFL champion Kaden Prather.

What’s next for Green Bay?

The 2026 training camp is entering its most intense stage of preparation, and LaFleur is laying the groundwork for the three preseason games ahead.

• Preseason Week 1, vs Pittsburgh Steelers (August 13)
• Preseason Week 2, vs Denver Broncos (August 21)
• Preseason Week 3, vs Arizona Cardinals (August 28)

In the 2025 NFL Players Association survey, Matt LaFleur suffered a setback in his grade from Packers players. He dropped from an A-minus in 2024 to a B-minus in 2025, with players indicating they felt the head coach did not treat them with enough respect.

LaFleur is aware of the massive impact this perception can have inside the locker room. For that reason, the head coach believes he must improve communication with both players and coaches to avoid any misunderstandings that could impact their performance.

“I don’t feel that way, but unfortunately some guys did,” LaFleur said, via ESPN. “That tells me I’ve got to do a better job of communicating. It goes back to the relationship piece. I think it’s so critical. We always talk about connected teams are powerful teams, and we have to grow that connection. Certainly that’s been a topic of conversation within our building of — how do we get these guys a little closer? Because the more they know each other, I think the more they’re going to battle for one another.”

A lot of pressure in Green Bay

Prior to signing his contract extension, Matt LaFleur stated multiple times that he believed he would stay in Green Bay for the long term. Now that the club has given him a new deal, the pressure is on the head coach.

The Packers have not yet reached the level of success expected with Matt LaFleur as head coach and Jordan Love as quarterback. While they have reached the Conference Championship twice, they lost both games, which is not at all what the front office envisioned.

This year, following a disappointing 2025 season, the pressure has increased significantly. With a new contract, LaFleur needs to prove he was the right choice. Love is also under the spotlight following the massive four-year, $220 million extension he signed in 2024.

The panorama in the NFC North

Last year, the Chicago Bears surprised many by winning the NFC North title. While the Packers also advanced, they were eliminated in the Wild Card round by those same Bears, their longtime rivals.

For 2026, the outlook appears even more complicated. The Vikings are set to improve with either J.J. McCarthy or Kyler Murray under center, and the Lions are not expected to have as poor a year as their last one. Meanwhile, the Bears now appear to be the frontrunners to secure the division title for the second year in a row. It is a tough scenario for Matt LaFleur and the Packers.

“Many teams in this league are only as good as your guy pulling the trigger, so we feel like we’re very fortunate to have one of those guys that I think the sky’s the limit for him,” LaFleur said to NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo.

Achieving good results isn’t just about talent. Often, the connection and human relationships can play a crucial role in fostering strong performance on the field.

“We trust each other quite a bit. I would say our relationship’s really strong. It’s been cool to watch his evolution, not only as a player but as a man. From the time we drafted him to where he is now, and he’s about to be a dad here really, really soon in a couple weeks. But he’s really developed into a really good leader for us.”

Love owes a Super Bowl

Despite racking up 10,929 passing yards, 80 touchdowns, and a solid 27-19-1 record over three years as the Packers’ starter, Jordan Love has yet to reach a Super Bowl. While he has consistently led Green Bay to the postseason with three playoff trips and only 28 interceptions, championship success remains the final hurdle for the star quarterback as he enters the 2026 season.

LaFleur remains a force in Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers signed Matt LaFleur to a multi-year contract extension (expected to earn approximately $15 million per year) in January 2026, securing his leadership after a 9-7-1 season. Despite the latest Wild Card exit, the organization prioritized stability for Jordan Love by locking in the coach who holds a dominant 76-40-1 career record.

After the 2025 NFL season, rumors swirled about the Packers potentially parting ways with Matt LaFleur. Surprisingly, the club went the other way and gave him a multi-year extension that will reportedly pay him around $9 million per year.

The move shocked many, including Packers fans. However, quarterback Jordan Love believes it was a smart decision, as consistency and avoiding a new system are key for him to perform at a peak level.

“Being able to keep Matt around is awesome, and I’m very happy about that,” QB Jordan Love told Kyle Malzahn of WFRV. “It’s a lot to learn a whole new system and new terminology. As a quarterback, being in the same system, the same terminology, it definitely helps me out.”

Matt LaFleur needs to prove his worth

Matt LaFleur has been the Packers’ head coach since 2019, achieving a 76-40-1 record (.654). However, postseason success has continuously eluded Green Bay.

The Packers have reached the Conference Championship twice under LaFleur’s guidance, losing in 2019 to the 49ers and a year later to the Buccaneers. This is why LaFleur is being so heavily criticized by fans and analysts.

Last year, the front office invested two first-round picks to acquire Micah Parsons, who unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury. However, with a healthy roster, expectations are sky-high for Green Bay in 2026.

Jordan Love also faces significant pressure

Not only is Matt LaFleur under the spotlight, but so is Jordan Love. The quarterback’s talents are undeniable, but he currently lacks the “clutch” factor that separates elite signal-callers from the rest of the pack.

In three years as a starter, Love has taken the Packers to the playoffs each season. Nevertheless, with that experience, fans are demanding he step up and finally become the franchise quarterback they expect him to be.

In the past few hours, the arrival of the former Cardinals coach as the new defensive coordinator for the Packers was confirmed. Gannon steps in to fill the void left by Jeff Hafley, who became the new head coach of the Dolphins.

“We are thrilled to add Jonathan Gannon to our coaching staff. He possesses tremendous experience as an NFL coordinator and head coach,” head coach LaFleur said in a statement released by the team.

“I am confident that he will be an outstanding addition to our organization, as well as a strong leader of our defense. We welcome Jonathan, his wife, Gina, and their three children, Rocco, Lola, and Angelo, to the Packers and the Green Bay community.”

Gannon’s experience comes to Lambeau Field

Jonathan Gannon, 43, joins the Green Bay Packers following a three-season stint as the Cardinals’ head coach, where Arizona struggled to a 15-36 record under his tenure.

Despite the challenging record, Gannon’s reputation as a defensive specialist remains rooted in his successful run as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator from 2021-2022 and his time as the Colts’ defensive backs coach from 2018-2020. Now tasked with leading Green Bay’s unit, Gannon will have the elite opportunity to build his scheme around the NFL’s premier defensive star, Micah Parsons.

Per multiple sources, including Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, it is a multi-year deal. As ESPN states, this is “not a prove-it deal but a real commitment.” As for the salary, details haven’t been revealed yet. However, it’s been reported by Tom Silverstein of PackersNews that LaFleur is believed to earn around $8 million and $9 million a year. Hence, it’s believed he received another raise now that a new contract was signed.

LaFleur has a 76-40-1 record with the Packers and six playoff trips in seven seasons at the helm of the club. However, it’s been his lack of success in the playoffs what made many ask for his firing. Still, the Packers opted to retain him and tie him long-term.

More moves are coming on the Packers

Pelissero also reported that the Packers are expected to extend the contracts of general manager Brian Gutekunst and executive VP Russ Ball. Hence, the main core of this Packers is expected to keep it going for years to come.

Having said all of that, they might lose a coach for next season. Also, the special teams should definitely look at a change. Rich Bisaccia hasn’t done a good job and there’s an argument to be made that it was the special teams that cost the Packers this season.

LaFleur is good but far from perfect

While LaFleur has done a splendid job since getting appointed as HC of the Packers, there are some things that he needs to correct. For instance, the Packers are one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. In 2025, they were the fourth-most flagged team with 8.3 per game. Pre-snap discipline is something LaFleur hasn’t been able to correct, and it’s starting to be a chronic symptom.

Then, his playcalling while mostly effective, can get very archaic and predictable sometimes. He tends to get very conservative. Also, he is a very streaky coach in the division. For instance, in 2024 he had a 1-5 record against NFC North teams, but then he was 4-0 late in 2025, only to then lose one to the Vikings and get eliminated from the playoffs by the Bears in the Wild Card round.

It’s well-documented that LaFleur and McVay are friends, so McVay might be looking to get revenge, as Johnson eliminated LaFleur’s Packers last week from the NFL Playoffs. McVay was asked if the spoke with LaFleur this week. “What would you guess?” McVay said with a smile. “No, we watch the tape. We do our work and Matt is a very close friend of mine.” Also, LaFleur’s brother, Mike, is the Rams’ offensive coordinator.

As for Johnson, he is not worried about a possible McVay-LaFleur alliance. “I think every week everyone tries to share what they had from the week before with your next opponent. I think that’s common practice,” Johnson said. “That’s something that you just keep on doing. Like I said all along, there’s a million ways you can do things, a million plays you can call. We’re going to do what we feel like is best for that particular week for the player that we have going against the opponent.”

Ben Johnson believes too much in his playbook

The reason that Ben Johnson got the Bears head coach job was because of his huge, incredible offensive playbook. As he said, “there’s a million ways you can do things, a million plays you can call.” However, the NFL is also a league where you get studied to the last detail.

McVay is a well-known obsessive coach when it comes to details, and so are his coordinators. Hence, Johnson must really have a million ways to do stuff or he will be in a world of trouble once coordinators figure him out. Especially Chris Shula, who is getting interviews with different teams to become a head coach. However, Johnson has yet to be proved wrong.

Johnson vs McVay could be offensive football cinema

McVay has been known as an offensive genius ever since he stepped into the NFL and even more as the Rams head coach. Johnson is the NFL’s brand-new superior offensive mind, so this is a coaching matchup made in heaven.

It will be unstoppable force against another unstoppable force. Given how these teams have performed lately, it will come down to which offense is more polished and ready to get deep into their bag to take the other team by surprise.

Both LaFleur and General Manager Brian Gutekunst are entering the final year of their contracts, prompting many to question whether they will actually return to the team given what’s ahead.

According to NFL reporter Adam Schefter on his X account, both are hoping for a positive meeting with the franchise, and it’s expected that they could extend their contracts with the Packers for a few more years.

Evidently, the main goal is to continue on this path, aiming for Love and his teammates to achieve results in the short term and eventually return to the Super Bowl.

Building a competitive team

The Green Bay Packers are fully committed to building a powerhouse around Jordan Love for a 2026 title run, headlined by their latest blockbuster acquisition of Micah Parsons.

To secure the elite pass rusher, Green Bay traded its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks along with Kenny Clark to the Cowboys, a high-stakes move intended to transform its defense into a championship-caliber unit once Parsons returns from his late-2025 ACL injury.

Offensively, the team is banking on the explosive trio of Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, and rising star Matthew Golden to provide Love with the weapons needed to lead a high-octane attack.

By pairing a generational defensive talent with a versatile group of playmakers, the Packers have signaled to the rest of the league that they are officially in “win-now” mode for the 2026 season.