Packers' Josh Jacobs placed on
commissioner's exempt list while he faces misdemeanor charges
[August 31, 2026]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been placed on the
NFL commissioner's exempt list while two misdemeanor charges against
him are pending, a move that prevents him from practicing or
attending games.
Players continue to get paid while on the commissioner's exempt
list. Upon request and with the club’s permission, Jacobs may be
present at the club’s facility on a reasonable basis for meetings,
individual workouts, therapy and rehabilitation and other permitted
non-football activities.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed Sunday that Jacobs had been
placed on the list, a move that comes three days after the charges
were filed against him. ESPN first reported the development.
Jacobs' absence will impact the Packers at a position in which they
already lacked depth. The Packers tried to address their running
back shortage Sunday by acquiring 2025 third-round pick Kaleb
Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2028
sixth-round selection.
The Packers open their season Sept. 13 at Minnesota.
Brown County (Wisconsin) District Attorney David Lasee announced
Thursday that Jacobs had been charged with battery and criminal
damage to property. The charges arose from what police described as
a physical confrontation between Jacobs and his girlfriend.
Jacobs was arrested on May 26, three days after police were called
to his home to investigate a disturbance. He was released from jail
the next day.
Jacobs’ lawyers — David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and
Clarence F. Duchac III — issued a statement in response to the NFL's
decision. They noted this move is “an administrative procedure used
by the NFL while a matter is being reviewed."
“It is not a final determination,” they said. “Josh respects the NFL
process, the Packers, and his Coaches and Teammates. He looks
forward to his return to the team and the NFL.”
Hobart-Lawrence police officers who responded to the May call said
Jacobs’ girlfriend told them she had a lump on her head as a result
of Jacobs’ actions.
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Police said the woman said she had been looking
through Jacobs’ phone and saw he was talking to other women, and
that she threw the phone in anger without breaking it. She told
police that Jacobs had her phone and she told him he could look
through it.
According to police, the woman indicated she tried
to retrieve her phone from Jacobs, but he didn’t return it and
instead grabbed her arm and began a struggle that lasted several
minutes. They then left the home in separate vehicles before
eventually returning.
Police said the woman was trying to exit a garage
door to get outside when Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the
ground, causing her to hit her head. Police said Jacobs also took
the phone from her while she was on the ground.
According to the criminal complaint filed last week, surveillance
footage from the camera system in the garage corroborated the
woman’s statement.
Jacobs rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. That
followed a 2024 season in which Jacobs ran for 1,329 yards and 15
touchdowns while earning his third Pro Bowl selection.
The 28-year-old has rushed for 7,803 yards and 74 touchdowns in his
seven-year career, which included five seasons with the Raiders. He
earned All-Pro honors and had an NFL-leading 1,653 yards rushing
with Las Vegas in 2022.
Jacobs was back on the field with the Packers for organized team
activities less than a week after the arrest and has been with the
team for training camp, though he’s been limited by a groin injury.
With Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list, the only running
backs on Green Bay's 53-man roster are MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks
and the newly acquired Johnson. The Packers cut Pierre Strong Jr.,
Damien Martinez and Jaden Nixon on Sunday.
Lloyd is a 2024 third-round pick who has played only one game over
the last two seasons due to a variety of injuries, though he has
stayed healthy throughout this preseason. Brooks ran for 106 yards
on 27 carries last season while contributing primarily on special
teams.
Johnson rushed for 69 yards on 28 carries while playing 10 games his
rookie season with the Steelers.
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