EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 16: Emanuel Wilson #23 of the Green Bay Packers reacts during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Packers won 27-20.

It wasn’t until just before kickoff at Lambeau Field that the Packers knew for certain that star running back Josh Jacobs would not be in the lineup for the Week 12 divisional matchup against the Vikings, a game the team was hoping would set the tone for the second half of the year after a maddeningly inconsistent start. But once it was determined that Jacobs could not go, RB2 Emanuel Wilson was ready to step into the breach.

And did he ever. Playing behind a makeshift offensive line but facing a weak run defense, Wilson posted a career day on Sunday in a 23-6 win over the Vikings, rushing for 107 yards on 28 carries. Wilson entered the game with 220 yards rushing this season, and had a career-best of 73 yards in the season finale last year against the Bears.

He, obviously, crushed his personal best. In the process, he says, he might have helped solidify a new way for the Packers to approach their offense.

Emanuel Wilson: ‘It’ll Be Crazy’

Speaking to Fox Sports after the game, Wilson said that when Jacobs comes back–expected to be on Thanksgiving against the Lions–the Packers could have a bit of a thunder-and-lightning situation.

“It’ll be crazy,” Wilson said of a one-two punch with Jacobs. “When Josh comes back, when he gets going I will try to match his energy. Today,  I just tried to do that.”

Wilson was an undrafted free agent for the Packers back in 2023 when he was coming out of little-known Fort Valley State. He said that being overlooked has been a big part of what has driven him to stick in the NFL.

“Just keeping a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I been through a lot throughout my life. So I just try to go out and make every opportunity count. … I just went out there and did my job. The guys believe in me so I tried to make every opportunity count for them.”

Packers Leaned on Run in Week 12

For the Packers, Sunday’s win was certainly different in style than we’ve seen this year, with their vaunted defense playing at full tilt and quarterback Jordan Love eschewing the risky decisions for which he is known to instead play conservative offense. That allowed the Packers to dominate in all phases.

Wilson was the main reason for that. Love added that the team is not exactly surprised by his success.

“Obviously, he did a lot of great things last week and he is a guy that we’ve got confidence in,” Love said. “For him to be able to find out that as well, that Josh wasn’t going, I think he was preparing mentally all week to be the guy, and then to find out and come out here and have over 100 yards, and break off some of the runs that he did was pretty cool.

“So, great job by him and stuff to keep building on and for him to just keep being ready when that opportunity presents itself, and to take advantage of it the more carries he got.”