Josh Jacobs, the Packers running back, is already spending the early weeks of the 2026 season on paid leave, and the NFL still can’t get its hands on the crucial video from the incident that led to his guilty plea for battery. Talk about a mess right out of the gate for Green Bay. This isn’t just a minor hold-up; it’s a critical piece of evidence that remains locked down, leaving the league in limbo.
The Legal Loop That’s Keeping Everyone Guessing
So, what’s the deal with this video? Police in Wisconsin are flat-out delaying its release, not just to the media but to the NFL itself. Last month, there was a glimmer of hope when the judge overseeing the criminal case actually lifted a temporary court order that had been sealing all the evidence. The judge even concluded that the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department had the discretion to “apply a balancing test between the rights of the public, the defendant and the victim in deciding whether to release the records.” You’d think that would pave the way, right? Nope.
Another Obstacle Blocks the Video’s Release
Chief Michael Renkas from Hobart-Lawrence police explained in an October 13 letter to USA Today that while his department *could* release some records with “appropriate redactions,” they’re forced to hold off. Why? Because the lawyers in the underlying case are planning to seek a brand new court order to block any disclosure. Renkas wrote, “Accordingly, the Department is temporarily withholding all responsive records in accordance with the statutory waiting period and any applicable court orders.” He added, “This temporary hold does not constitute a denial of your requ…” This means the police are just stuck in the middle, waiting for the next legal move, and that video isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
So what’s next? It’s a waiting game. The lawyers plan to seek that new court order to keep the footage from seeing the light of day, and the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department is legally required to wait it out. Until then, Jacobs remains on paid leave, the NFL remains without the key footage for their own investigation, and we’re all just stuck watching this legal saga unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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