Josh Jacobs Needs Surgery for Fractured Finger, Packers Weighing IR Stint

Getting your hand stuck in another grown man's facemask sounds like a cartoon gag until it derails your entire season. Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is headed for surgery to repair a fractured ring finger, and head coach Matt LaFleur admits a stint on Injured Reserve is officially on the table.

If you are holding Jacobs rushing props or relying on him to anchor your fantasy backfield, it is time to hit the panic button. An IR stint guarantees he misses at least four weeks, leaving a massive void in a Green Bay offense that relies heavily on establishing the run to set up the passing game.

"Matt LaFleur told reporters that surgery is required and Injured Reserve is a possibility because Jacobs was having a hard time gripping the ball."

The injury happened in the first quarter of Sunday's 45-27 blowout win over the New England Patriots. Jacobs managed just four carries for five yards before exiting the game. He tried to test it on the sideline, but when a running back physically cannot grip the football, the medical staff tends to take away their helmet.

This is a brutal setback for a guy who was just getting his legs under him. Jacobs missed the first six weeks of the season on the commissioner's exempt list and was playing in just his third game of the year. He had logged 36 carries for 80 yards since his return, and just when it looked like he was ready to take on a full workload, his hand found the wrong side of a metal cage.

With Jacobs sidelined, the Packers had to scramble. Kaleb Johnson stepped up to lead the backfield with 14 touches against New England, instantly making him the most popular waiver wire claim of the week. Meanwhile, MarShawn Lloyd was inactive on Sunday, but you can bet he will be suiting up moving forward.

Green Bay is sitting at 6-3 and staring down a massive divisional clash against the Minnesota Vikings next week. The Packers will have to figure out their backfield rotation in a hurry, because trying to survive the NFC North without a reliable ground game is a math problem that rarely ends well.