Running back Josh Jacobs’ signing with the Green Bay Packers in free agency in the offseason generated considerable buzz. Could he replace longtime Packers standout Aaron Jones as starting running back, a position he had held since his rookie season in 2017?

Now, as the Packers (9-3) head into a Week 14 showdown Thursday at Detroit (11-1), the sixth-year running back has not only supplanted Jones, who’s playing well with the Minnesota Vikings. Jacobs, 26, also is poised to have one of the best seasons of his career.

There are many facets of Jacobs’ game to watch closely.

Per ESPN.com, he is on track to conclude the season with remarkable statistics: 12 total touchdowns (tying for highest in his career), 1,398 rushing yards (second to his standout 2022 season) and 368 receiving yards (also the second-highest total in his career).

Jacobs is averaging 9.6 yards per reception, a career high, and 4.5 yards per rush, only 0.4 yards short of his personal best. Additionally, he scored the first receiving touchdown of his career during the Packers’ 24-22 victory against the Houston Texans in Week 7, a milestone that underscores his evolution into a versatile running back.

Jacobs is ranked among the elite running backs in the NFL. He boasts 987 rushing yards, the third-highest total in the league, and averages 82.3 rushing yards per game, fourth best in the league. Moreover, with 50 first downs, he is tied for fifth in the league among running backs, underscoring his dependability in advancing the ball.

Standout performances

Jacobs’ has had several standout games in his debut season with Green Bay.

In Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, he ran for 151 yards, the third-highest rushing total of his career in a game. In a Week 8 away game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he rushed for 127 yards on 25 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Jacobs’ most impressive performance of the season came in Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers, when he rushed for 106 yards on 26 carries and scored three TDs. Green Bay’s 38-10 win over San Francisco was its largest margin of victory against the 49ers in franchise history.

A new beginning in Green Bay

After leaving the Las Vegas Raiders and signing a four-year contract with the Packers, Jacobs has rejuvenated his career. Under head coach Matt LaFleur’s guidance, the offensive scheme has allowed Jacobs to fully use his skills.

Jacobs, who has 221 carries this season, enjoys putting in the work.

“I feel great,” he said, per Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber.

“He just a coach’s dream,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “He does it the right way.”