Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed the media after their first practice of 2026 rookie minicamp. It wasn't long before he discussed one of the most intriguing names in attendance: running back Isaiah Jacobs.
Of course, that last name might sound familiar to Packers fans; Isaiah is the younger brother of the team's bell-cow, Josh Jacobs. Not all siblings look the same, but evidently, they do. When asked if their family ties are noticeable, LaFleur couldn't help but turn the question around.
"Can you tell?" LaFleur told reporters with a smile on his face."You almost have to do a double-take if you just quickly glance that it wasn't Josh [Jacobs] out there."
Matt LaFleur sees uncanny resemblance between Packers' brotherly RB duo of Josh, Isaiah Jacobs
LaFleur was pretty clearly saying the Jacobs' resemble each other in terms of visual appearance, which is a fair assessment. Josh and Isaiah are cut from the same cloth — literally, so perhaps the Packers are hoping their likeness translates to the field.
Frankly, it's hard to envision Isaiah blossoming into the three-time Pro Bowler Josh has. Their pedigrees alone tell a story; the former went undrafted this year, and the latter was a first-round pick in 2019. But hey, crazier things have happened.
If Isaiah can even be a fraction as good as his elder brother, that'd be an amazing outcome. He wasn't nearly as productive in college, though context matters, especially in this scenario. Nevertheless, his frame is notably comparable to Josh's measurables coming out of school:
Isaiah Jacobs 2025 Measurables | Josh Jacobs 2019 Measurables |
|---|---|
5-foot-11 | 5-foot-10 |
228 pounds | 220 pounds |
30 1/8-inch arm length | 31 5/8-inch arm length |
Isaiah suffered season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024. A torn ACL and foot issue, respectively, derailed him upon transferring from Maryland to UAB. It's been an uphill battle since then, yet he lands an opportunity to showcase his talents to the Packers in a tryout.
It goes without saying that nothing is imminent. Isaiah's one of 38 players the Packers invited to participate in the "onboarding process," as LaFleur said, and far from a roster locker. Regardless, Green Bay has a meaningful void in the backfield behind Josh and is giving his doppelgänger a look.
The Packers lost Emanuel Wilson to the Seattle Seahawks in free agency this offseason and haven't replaced him. Meanwhile, neither MarShawn Lloyd nor Chris Brooks has proven they can handle backup duties. That leaves the door wide open for someone to emerge as Josh's understudy, whether it be Isaiah or someone else.
Across 12 games as a redshirt senior at UAB in 2025, Isaiah ran for 342 yards and four touchdowns on 79 carries (4.3 yards per attempt). He also caught 15 passes for an additional 82 yards and a score.
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