GREEN BAY – As he makes his Packers debut Friday night in Brazil, running back Josh Jacobs is, well, trying not to get too hyped up.
So he plans to focus on basics and fundamentals rather than worry about what he needs or wants to showcase as the new bell-cow back in Green Bay's offense.
"I'm just trying to not let it be me, the guy who messes it up," Jacobs said, downplaying the energy and emotion wrapped up in this season-opening matchup with the Eagles.
"That's my biggest thing going into Game 1 is just trying to be very disciplined in my keys, and try to put my little spin on it when I get a chance."
Part of that spin could be Jacobs' involvement in the passing game, which has been a topic of discussion since he signed as a free agent back in March. He averaged roughly 40 receptions per year over five seasons with the Raiders but very well could surpass that in Green Bay.
For comparison's sake, Jacobs' predecessor Aaron Jones averaged just over 50 receptions in Head Coach Matt LaFleur's offense from 2019-22 (before missing six games last season). But LaFleur isn't giving any of his plans away in advance.
"Some guys are check-down guys, some guys are creative route runners, and I think you just have to go through the process and throw some stuff at him and see how he does with it," LaFleur said. "It'll be an interesting year to see what he can do."
Color his teammates curious as well. Quarterback Jordan Love described Jacobs, the NFL's 2022 rushing champ, as "hungry to get out there and get his first action in a Packers uniform" while center Josh Myers referred to Jacobs as having that "it" factor.
"He's one of those guys when you give him the ball on third-and-1, you trust he's going to get it," Myers said. "He just has that dawg mentality about him, for lack of a better word. He does, you can see it."
So does his Eagles counterpart, Saquon Barkley, another star running back with a new team in 2024. Like Jacobs, Barkley has two career Pro Bowl selections to his credit and has shifted locations to join a playoff contender.
Over six seasons with the Giants, Barkley faced the Packers three times, topping 100 yards from scrimmage each game. The last two were particularly troublesome for Green Bay, as his big second half in London in '22 included the go-ahead touchdown and sparked New York's comeback victory, and then last year he rushed for 86 yards and two TDs in a Monday night December triumph.
"He's just dynamic with the ball," former Giants teammate and new Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. "He's pretty much all you want a back to do. He can just do it all. He's a special back, one of one."
Perhaps the biggest challenge against Barkley is getting him down on first contact. He can break tackles with the best of them, so it isn't just about scheming to slow him down, but finishing the play as well.
"He can easily be the top rushing running back in this league, and we know we have to contain him," defensive end Preston Smith said. "We can't allow him to get hot, can't allow him to get comfortable, can't allow him to get going."
Observers league-wide are curious to see exactly how Barkley fits into Philly's offense with QB Jalen Hurts at the helm, just as they are with Jacobs behind Love. Odds are Week 1 won't tell the whole story for either back, but rather will be just the beginning of new narratives.
Whatever the case, they both have to start somewhere.
"I'm just excited," Jacobs said. "Honestly, I'm excited to see these guys work. I'm excited to see the dawg. I'm excited to see the intensity when the game comes. When we get hit, how do we respond? That's what I'm excited to see."
