Packers updates: Josh Jacobs to practice Friday, Van Ness expected to return vs. Vikings

Two big updates from Matt LaFleur’s Friday press conference in Green Bay: injured running back Josh Jacobs will practice again on Friday, and the team is expecting defensive end Lukas Van Ness to return from a five-game injury absence and play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Jacobs is dealing with a knee contusion coming out of last week’s win over the New York Giants. He sat out practice on Wednesday but returned on Thursday, and both Jacobs and the Packers have left the door open to him playing against the Vikings if the knee responds over the next few days.

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“Yeah, I’d say he’ll be limited (on Friday),” LaFleur said. “And we’ll see what he can do. Just talking to him, he’s feeling pretty good, so we’ll see when we get out there.”

Jacobs has said he will be a true game-time decision for Sunday. The team and the player must decide how to proceed, based on the swelling in his knee, his comfortable level playing through the injury and the implications of risking an aggravation, especially with a quick turnaround next week playing the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

“It’s a collective decision, always,” LaFleur said. “First of all, he has to be medical cleared. His level of confidence, and we’ll all discuss and make a decision.”

While Jacobs’ status remains up in the air, the Packers are hopeful to return Van Ness, who was ascending as a third-year edge rusher before injuring his foot on a sack of Joe Flacco in Week 6. He’s missed the last five games but has practiced in a limited capacity each of the last two weeks.

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The Packers are targeting a return on Sunday based on how Van Ness feels after a week of practice.

“That is the goal, we’ll see how he gets through today,” LaFleur said.

Van Ness could give the defensive front a shot in the arm. Through the first five games, Van Ness was playing an important role as a rotational player, both on the edge and also inside on obvious passing downs. He was also playing the best football of his career, producing 16 pressures on 104 pass-rushing snaps.

The final injury report for Week 12 will arrive later on Friday afternoon. Jacobs will likely be listed as questionable to play. Van Ness might also be questionable unless he’s a full participant at Friday’s practice.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers updates: Josh Jacobs to practice Friday, Van Ness expected to return vs. Vikings