Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs said that his touchdown celebration was not intended to make light of his offseason arrest but was instead inspired by a gospel song.

After scoring his first touchdown of the game in the team's 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night, Jacobs put his hands behind his back in celebration. Thursday's game was Jacobs' second since coming off the commissioner's exempt list, which he had been on since August following a May altercation with his then-girlfriend, who said he threw her to the ground.

Jacobs pleaded no contest last month to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property. He insisted the celebration had nothing to do with his arrest as speculation spread on social media that the gesture referenced his off-field issues.

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"They didn't even get the whole celebration. Um, s---, it was f------ one second that (the broadcast) just showed me," Jacobs told reporters after the game.

"But anyways, me and (wide receiver Savion Williams) came up with a celebration. They would have seen the whole celebration. Basically, last week we said the first celebration when I scored, I was going to thank God. That's what I did last week. The second was going to be break every chain. It's a gospel song. That was going to be the next celebration. It's just a correlation, but like I said, the media going to run with it. They going to make it that it wouldn't. But it is what it is."

PACKERS' JOSH JACOBS SPARKS OUTRAGE WITH HANDCUFF TOUCHDOWN CELEBRATION! - DOWNLOAD NOW

After Jacobs scored his first touchdown last weekend in the team's loss to the Detroit Lions, he dropped to his knees and raised his arms. "Break Every Chain" is a gospel song written by Will Reagan in 2009 and popularized by a live recording by Tasha Cobbs Leonard in 2013.

Jacobs had not been allowed to play or practice while on the commissioner’s exempt list. He was removed from the list last week, allowing him to play again even though the NFL's investigation into his conduct remains ongoing.

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In his two games since returning to the 5-3 Packers, Jacobs has rushed 32 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, averaging just 2.3 yards per carry. The three-time Pro Bowler has been more productive as a receiver, catching 11 passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Carolina Panthers have made the first coordinator firing of the NFL season.

After the team's 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field, the Panthers announced Friday that they had fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. The loss was the Panthers' second straight and dropped them to 3-4.

The Panthers named defensive line coach Todd Wash their interim defensive coordinator and play-caller.

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Evero, 45, had been head coach Dave Canales' defensive coordinator since 2024. In his first season, the Panthers' defense allowed 31.4 points per game, which was last in the NFL, but the unit improved in 2025. Last season, the defense allowed 23 points per game, which ranked 16th in the NFL.

However, the unit has regressed this season, as its points allowed have climbed to 27.6 per game, which ranks 27th in the NFL. Unfortunately for Evero, his unit has been decimated by injuries.

The Panthers have played the last few games without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Backup cornerback Akayleb Evans joined them on injured reserve earlier this week. In addition, linebackers Nic Scourton (ACL) and Thomas Incoom (calf injury) and defensive tackle Cam Jackson (shoulder injury) are also on IR.

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Despite being 3-4, the Panthers are still atop the lowly NFC South, and Canales is hoping Wash can spark the defense as they seek their second straight division title.

Wash joined Carolina’s staff in 2023 and has 31 years of coaching experience, including 20 in the NFL. He spent five seasons serving as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars had the second-ranked defense in the league in 2017 under Wash and advanced to the AFC Championship game.

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Outside linebackers coach/run game specialist AC Carter’s responsibilities will expand to include coaching the defensive line, the Panthers announced.

The Panthers will look to right the ship when they play the Denver Broncos (5-2) a week from Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Green Bay Packers opened Week 8 with a crucial win, keeping pace in a tightly contested NFC North race.

Jordan Love threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns as Green Bay defeated the Carolina Panthers 27-19 at Lambeau Field Thursday night.

Bryce Young was sacked six times and threw an interception as Carolina lost its second straight game. Despite the setback, the Panthers remain atop the NFC South and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating division rival Atlanta in Week 2.

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Packers wide receiver Christian Watson got taken to the hospital after injuring his chest in the second quarter, only to return to the game in the second half.

Watson’s injury occurred as he made a 53-yard catch, with Panthers cornerback Will Lee also getting hurt on the play while making a diving stop. Lee was carted into the locker room with a hamstring injury and didn’t return to the game.

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After getting sent to the hospital for examination, Watson returned to Lambeau Field and received a huge ovation as he headed back to the field after the Packers had extended their lead to 27-10 in the third quarter. Watson returned to the game later in the third, after Ryan Fitzgerald’s 50-yard field goal made it 27-13.

Brewers take victory lap at Lambeau Field

Less than 24 hours after the Milwaukee Brewers captured the franchise’s first World Series title, the team’s celebration continued roughly 120 miles north at Lambeau Field.

Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff brought the Commissioner’s Trophy onto the field Thursday night at the end of the first quarter. Teammates Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick also joined the celebration.

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Watson had six catches for 100 yards before leaving the game.

The Packers will face New England on Nov. 8, while the Panthers will host the Denver Broncos in Charlotte in Week 9.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Football is back for Week 8, and it is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the regular season. I still feel like we don't really know all that much about these teams. Are some of these teams that have good records actually bad (the Chiefs), or are some of the bad-record teams actually good (the Cowboys)? Maybe those two teams aren't even the best examples of those situations. There are two teams on Thursday Night Football that are a bit hard to judge, as the Panthers and Packers take each other on.

The Carolina Panthers are 3-3 for the season and 2-1 on the road. Bryce Young is searching for a contract extension, or maybe at this point a new home. The good news for him is that he has looked fantastic in his fourth year under center. He is on pace to have the best season of his career. The running game has been solid for the team, even if they don't really use it as much as they probably need to. Chuba Hubbard is averaging about 4.5 yards per carry, but the team has attempted roughly 100 more passes than runs.

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Defensively, this team has struggled against the run, but has been very good against the pass. They have the worst defense in football when it comes to stopping the run. However, against the pass, they are ranked sixth. That might be a good thing against a Packers team that has struggled to run the ball this season. What is interesting to me is that, if you look at the schedule, the Panthers have won games against Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley. They lost to the Bears, Browns and Buccaneers. No knock on those three, but I don't think their team's running backs would be as feared as the ones they beat.

The Green Bay Packers are 4-3 for the season and have done a good job of protecting their home field, entering with a 2-1 record. Jordan Love is having a really strong season and is arguably being asked to do more than ever before. The team was missing starting running back Josh Jacobs, who was away from the team due to legal issues. Without Jacobs, the Packers really struggled to find any traction on the ground this season. His return last week wasn't transformational; Jacobs only had 36 yards on 11 carries.

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The Packers will continue to rely on Love's arm to get the job done. He's already thrown the ball 270 times this season, which is almost double the number of times they've called a run play. That does make the offense a bit one-dimensional, and against the Panthers' defense, they could struggle. 

The Packers, in general, don't score all that many points. They are averaging 20.6 points per game, 25th in the NFL, putting them in the same company as the Cardinals and Broncos.

It would be really hard to imagine that the Panthers and Packers play in a shootout tonight. Despite both of these teams excelling in the passing game, they aren't exactly elite offenses. Both are pretty good at stopping the pass. I think this game is likely to be a slow-starting game with both trying to figure things out. I'd be surprised if it goes over 47.5 for the game, but I think the under in the first half is even more likely. Neither team is a fast-starting team. Give me the under 23.5 for the 1st half.

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