The Green Bay Packers will have a new starting running back this season with the departure of Aaron Jones and the signing of free agent Josh Jacobs. But one thing that remains unclear is how much of a workload Jacobs can expect in Matt LaFleur’s offense this season.

In recent years, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has always preferred a running back by committee approach. That may be due in part to Jones’ lack of size and his durability concerns. Jones stands 5’9” and weighs 208 pounds. Since Jones entered the NFL in 2017, he has carried the football 20 or more times in a game only 10 times. Never in his career did he run the ball more than 25 times in a game.

Jacobs is three years younger than Jones. He is also an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier than his predecessor. While that may not sound like much, Jacobs has proven over the course of his NFL career, which began two years later than Jones’, that he can carry a bigger load when it comes to rushing the football.

In 73 career regular-season games, Jacobs has carried the ball 20 or more times in a game in 29 of them. Thirteen times, he has 25 or more carries in a single game.

In five seasons, Jacobs missed a total of eight games. Meanwhile, Jones missed six games in 2023 alone and only played in every regular season game in a season twice in seven seasons.

So, the question becomes, will LaFleur turn Jacobs loose and make him the Packers workhorse back or will he continue to rotate his running backs to keep all of them sharp and fresh for the playoff run?

The potential backups have talent. A.J. Dillon is back after signing a surprise, team-friendly deal. Over the last three seasons, Dillon has carried the ball 187 times in 2021, 186 times in 2022, and 178 times last season when he missed two games due to injury.

While Dillon’s productivity and average yards-per-rush went down to a new career low of 3.4 last season, the reason for that is not likely due to carrying the football too frequently.

The Packers also drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. While the coaches were raving about Lloyd’s potential after OTAs and minicamp, he still has some work to do before becoming a regular part of the running back rotation.

Like many NFL rookies, Lloyd needs to improve his ability to pass protect and pick up blitzes and stunts. He also is unproven as a receiver because he didn’t get many opportunities to catch the football in college. Finally, Lloyd was a frequent fumbler in college and must prove he can hold on to the ball more consistently to earn the trust of the Packers coaches.

Emanuel Wilson is also back after leading the NFL in rushing yards last preseason. He will have a fight on his hands to stay on the Packers roster if they only keep three running backs and everybody remains healthy. Still, Wilson showed good speed and burst as a rookie and made the team as an undrafted free agent.

Another factor in LaFleur’s decision as to how much to give the football to Jacobs will be how well he fits into the Packers passing game. Jacobs has twice caught more than 50 passes in a season although he has yet to score as a receiver in 197 receptions. If Jacobs establishes himself as the best pass catcher among the team’s running backs, that could keep him on the field for more plays.

It is likely that Jacobs gets more playing time over the course of the season than Jones did, but the team still spells him for a few drives each game to keep him fresh and prevent overwork. But how much more remains to be seen. A lot of that will depend on how healthy Jacobs stays and how well he performs. It will be an interesting thing to watch as the 2024 season unfolds.