GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordan Love is still at Green Bay Packers practice, but he’s not participating, as contract negotiations continue toward an extension.
“Obviously you’d like to have him out there,” Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. “The way I look at it, it’s out of my control. So, I’m just going to focus on the guys that we have in there and continue to challenge him from a mental standpoint.”
“Everybody in this locker room wants to get that deal done as soon as possible,“ Packers running back Josh Jacobs said. “We obviously all feel like he deserves whatever he wants.”
Jacobs led the NFL in rushing two years ago with the Las Vegas Raiders. But he feels rejuvenated in Green Bay.
“One hundred percent. It’s a lot of young guys, still got that hope and their energy,” said Jacobs. “The way that they finished the season last year, right there, right on the cusp of something special. You can still feel the energy in this building.”
“He’s a very strong, powerful guy, very elusive,” Packers running back A.J. Dillon said. “He’s got highlights for days that you can watch on YouTube, and great character. He’s been awesome getting to know there in OTAs, and obviously a couple of weeks here during camp.”
Jacobs said building chemistry with the offensive line is crucial.
“Regardless if you’re running the ball or throwing the ball, you can’t do anything without the offensive line,” said Jacobs. “I don’t think that they get as much credit as they as they really deserve. Building that chemistry is big because when a player likes you, when they know you, they’ll strain harder a little bit for you,” he said.
And as a physical player, Jacobs looks forward to the pads coming on in practice on Saturday.
“When the pads go on, it gets real,” Jacobs said."Might get a little chippy. You play football at that point. It is no more excuses there, you know? Well, we couldn’t block here. We come back here, you got to get the job done.”
Jacobs considers himself a perfectionist and said he’s been very well-accepted by his new teammates.