Packers’ Jacobs Angers Teammates by Saying Team Needs a No. 1 Receiver

Packers running back Josh Jacobs celebrates with fans after scoring against the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., on Jan. 5, 2025. Matt Ludtke/AP Photo

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs had some tough love for his receiving corps.

In an impromptu appearance at Super Bowl media row in New Orleans on Feb. 5, Jacobs was asked what the Packers need to do to make a Super Bowl appearance themselves. Jacobs said the Packers are young but have the culture to succeed. However, he said the team is a couple of pieces away from becoming a contender, including a proven No. 1 wide receiver.

“Obviously, we keep hearing about how we’re the youngest team in the NFL, and [there are] gonna be some growing pains with that,” said Jacobs on the “No BS” radio show on Milwaukee-based radio station 97.3 The Fan. “I think that we’re three pieces away from actually being, like, ‘in the game.’ If not three pieces, we need a few guys to have that second-year type of improvement, that come in ready.

“But for me, I think the culture is there. I think that the mindset is there. Everybody has a winning mindset. Everybody is willing to come in each day and give it their all at practice.”

One of the missing pieces Jacobs mentioned was a standout defensive end. He pointed to Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, a potential trade target due to Las Vegas’s struggles recently, and Myles Garrett, who recently announced his intention to seek a trade from the equally struggling Cleveland Browns, as players he has been pitching to join the team.

Another missing piece was a wide receiver. “We’ve got a really young group of receivers, [they] all can be really, really, really special, but I think, personally, we need a guy that’s proven to be a No. 1 already. Somebody that we know is gonna be a little bit more consistent,” he said.

The hosts teased him about Davante Adams, who has experience both with the Packers (he was drafted by Green Bay and played for them from 2014 to 2021) and Jacobs (whom he played with as a member of the Raiders in 2022 and 2023). Jacobs said he would accept Adams back “if he [comes] at the right price” and that the two have had some conversations about it.

The Packers have taken a committee approach at wide receiver in recent years, with four young pass catchers—Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks—each contributing at different times. However, none of those receivers crossed the 1,000-yard mark this year, and each has struggled with his own set of problems. Watson has had injuries; he missed three games as a rookie in 2022, eight games in 2023, and two games this season. Doubs has played only one full season so far, playing 13 games in both 2022 and 2024. The receivers also struggled with drops this season. Wicks and Reed both had nine drops, while Doubs had seven and Watson had two.

Two of the receivers responded on X. Wicks replied to a clip of Jacobs with crying-laughing and thumbs-down emojis.

Reed called out Jacobs and the Packer faithful in a since-deleted post that said bashing “ya own players” is crazy.

Jacobs said the team was set up for him to have success. “With the weapons that we have, with the group of guys, with the play calls and everything, everything is out there for me. So for me, it’s just about going in and putting my spin on the game and just [trying] to be as productive as I can,” he said.