GREEN BAY – Statistically, the Packers couldn't have asked for much more than what Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs have given them through the first half of the 2024 NFL season.
The two marquee free agents, both signed on March 14, have been among the best players at their respective positions to this point, highlighted by McKinney earning NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October.
Meanwhile, Jacobs has rushed for the third-most yards (762) in the league on the second-most carries (158), the most ground production for a Green Bay running back through nine games since Ahman Green's 864 yards in 2004.
As great as their early contributions have been, the numbers provide just a small glimpse of the collective impact McKinney and Jacobs have had on the Packers during their 6-3 season. It's their leadership, too.
"Credit to those guys for being able to contribute like they have so quickly," said General Manager Brian Gutekunst on Tuesday. "For me, it's not only the production that they've put out there for us but just also how they fit into the locker room as leaders. I think that they've really helped continue to strengthen our culture."
Jacobs, 26, came to Green Bay with a reputation for durability, production and leadership during his five seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. The 5-foot-10, 223-pound running back was not only the NFL's rushing champion in 2022 but also a team captain with the Raiders.
Those traits have carried over to a Packers offense that has badly needed him. Jacobs' presumptive backups – veteran AJ Dillon and rookie third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd – have spent most of the year on injured reserve. What's more, Green Bay has been without starting quarterback Jordan Love for 2½ games.
A bell-cow back in every sense of the word, Jacobs ranks second in the NFL in yards after contact, according to TruMedia. His 583 yards in that category are second only to Baltimore running back Derrick Henry (607).
He's amassed 90-plus scrimmage yards in seven games this season, tied for No. 1 in the NFL with Henry and Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley. Additionally, Jacobs also caught his first NFL touchdown pass on his 212th career reception (vs. Houston, Week 7).
Only former NFL running back Thomas Jones (242) had more receptions prior to his first receiving TD.
"He's the same guy every day in his approach, how he approaches practice, how locked in he is, what kind of teammate he is," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "Then you watch his play style, I think we all can agree that he plays the game the right way.
"He runs with a mentality. He's a tough guy to bring down, and he's done a great job in both the run game and the pass game. … I can't say enough great things about him."
Following a successful four seasons with the New York Giants, McKinney was part of a complete overhaul of the Packers' safety room. Third-year veteran Zayne Anderson is the only remaining player at the position from the 2023 roster.
McKinney, who didn't turn 25 until September, got off to an historic start to his time in Green Bay. He's the first player in team history to register an interception in each of his first five games with the team and also the first to record six games with an INT in the first eight games of a season.
Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, it tied for the second-most games with an INT in the first eight contests behind only Washington DB Lemar Parrish (seven games in 1979).
Gutekunst and his scouts were impressed by McKinney's film from his three years at the University of Alabama, but the 6-foot, 201-pound safety ultimately went to New York high in the second round, as the No. 36 pick, in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Packers still kept eyes on McKinney, though, with Gutekunst even spending time last December watching him go through his pregame process when Green Bay and New York played last December.
When McKinney came available as an unrestricted free agent in March, the Packers quickly pounced.
"He prepares extremely well, takes it very serious, keeps his body in great shape," Gutekunst said. "He's a pro's pro. Interceptions can be streaky. That's kind of one of those things but I do think he's a guy – he always has been a guy – that if the opportunity presented itself, he had the ability to take the ball away."
The Packers enter their Week 10 bye following a 24-14 loss to the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, a bitter ending to what was overall a strong first half for Green Bay.
Both McKinney and Jacobs welcome the opportunity to rest and recover. When the team reconvenes next week, McKinney is excited about what lies ahead for a young Packers team brimming with promise.
"I think we have the right guys in this locker room," McKinney said. "We got the right staff, everywhere in this building, we have the right people to do it. I think as players for us we really gotta nail this down, because we're about to get into a stretch after this bye week and we gotta be ready to go."
