Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is on the verge of setting an NFL record he'd rather avoid.
The veteran running back has caught 197 passes in his five-year NFL career but scored zero touchdowns. If he snags five more passes without hitting pay dirt, Jacobs would break former running back Gerald Riggs' record of 201 catches without a receiving touchdown. A three-time Pro Bowler, Riggs played seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (1982-1987) and three with Washington (1989-1991), where he won a Super Bowl in his final season.
Jacobs and Riggs are the only two players in NFL history with more than 150 career catches without a touchdown.
Jacob's new quarterback, Jordan Love, has seen the ignominious stat his RB is approaching and plans on snapping the streak before he breaks the record.
"No, that's not going to happen," Love said during a Bleacher Report AMA, via Packers Wire. "I saw that the other day. I'm surprised he doesn't have any touchdowns yet. Let's see, 197 career receptions, zero receiving touchdowns. I sent that to him, I said, 'Bro, we're going to get you a touchdown, for sure.' First pass to him might be a touchdown, who knows. Five receptions away from it? We'll make sure he gets a touchdown in there."
The Packers kick off the 2024 season in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles, then host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 and travel to Tennessee in Week 3.
In his five seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs averaged 2.7 receptions per game. Last year, in Love's first year at the helm, lead back Aaron Jones also averaged 2.7 catches per game.
If those averages hold, Jacobs would be in line to break the record in Week 2 at Lambeau Field. Unless, of course, Love gets the RB a TD grab before he hits the magic number.
