Josh Jacobs tried tape. He tried a cast. Neither one gave him his grip back.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the running back needs surgery on the fractured ring finger of his right hand. LaFleur would not rule out placing Jacobs on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games.

Asked whether Jacobs could play through it, LaFleur said: "I don't think he could. He tried last night. He tried to go back in and he had no grip strength."

How it happened

Jacobs was hurt in the first quarter of Green Bay's 45-27 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday when his hand got caught in the helmet of defensive back Craig Woodson as he tried a stiff-arm near the sideline. He went to the locker room twice to see if the medical staff could protect the hand well enough for him to keep playing.

After the game Jacobs said he saw part of the bone sticking out and popped the finger back into place himself. "It looked nasty" he said. "[Looks] a lot better now than what it did, but we'll see."

"As far as how long he'll be out, I think that's to be determined" LaFleur said.

Who carries the load

Jacobs missed the first six games of the season on the commissioner exempt list and the league is still reviewing his case under the personal conduct policy. In three games since his return he has 80 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.

With Jacobs and MarShawn Lloyd out Sunday, Kaleb Johnson ran for 68 yards on 14 carries, the most by a Packers back in a game this season. LaFleur said Green Bay may not need to add a running back because Chris Brooks could return from injured reserve this week. The Packers (6-3) host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.