It’s easy to say that the Green Bay Packers’ two biggest offseason free agent acquisitions have performed as expected. Security Running back Josh Jacobs is third in the NFL with 762 rushing yards, and Xavier McKinney is tied for the league lead in interceptions. Jacobs is eighth in terms of running yards per game (84.7), third in terms of rushing attempts (158), and sixth in terms of rushes of 20 yards or more (six).
The Packers offence has benefited greatly from Jacobs, particularly during quarterback Jordan Love’s injury layoffs. Jacobs had 151 running yards on 34 rushes in Green Bay’s season-opening game, which was also the first game Love missed due to a sprained MCL. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacobs took over after Love was sidelined by a groin injury. He ran for 127 yards on 25 rushes and scored two touchdowns. However, Jacobs was hit with a hefty fine by the NFL during Green Bay’s third game of the season, which took place against the Tennessee Titans.
In the game against Tennessee, Jacobs had 14 carries for 43 yards as backup quarterback Malik Willis helped lead the Packers to victory in the second game Love missed. Jacobs was, however, fined for lowering his head on this play (a play on which he was not flagged):
As Pelissero notes, the fine was a whopping $45,020, one of the largest fines in the NFL this year. As a reference, Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was fined a little over $20,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Bo Melton and flipping off Packers fans on his way off the field.
Jacobs, of course, appealed the fine.
This occurred nearly a month and a half ago, but the NFL has recently made its final decision on Jacobs’ fine:
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