Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs’ initial court appearance on two misdemeanor charges has been moved up two months, now set for next week, just three days before the Packers kick off their season at Minnesota. If that wasn’t enough, the NFL has already slapped Jacobs onto the commissioner’s exempt list, sidelining the three-time Pro Bowler from playing or practicing.
Exempt List Blues: What It Means for Jacobs and the Packers
So, Jacobs is on the exempt list, which means he’s getting paid but can’t suit up or practice with his team. The NFL made this move Sunday, just days after Brown County (Wisconsin) District Attorney David Lasee dropped the news that Jacobs was charged with battery and criminal damage to property. This isn’t a minor thing, folks. While he can still hit the facility for meetings, workouts, and therapy, he’s basically ghosted from the field. The NFL is diving deep into this investigation, and a suspension could be looming. Any games he misses while on the exempt list would count towards that suspension, but he’d have to pay back the cash he earned during that time. His lawyers,David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III,are trying to temper expectations, noting the exempt list isn’t “a final determination.” They say Jacobs “looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL,” but let’s be real, this is a mess right before the regular season.
The Disturbing Details and a GM’s Dilemma
This whole situation goes back to May 26, when Jacobs was arrested after Hobart-Lawrence police officers responded to a disturbance at his home three days earlier. Police reports are grim: Jacobs’ girlfriend told them she had a lump on her head from his actions. She said she threw his phone in anger after seeing him talking to other women, though the phone didn’t break. Then, she tried to get her phone back from Jacobs, leading to a struggle where he allegedly grabbed her arm. Later, police say she tried to leave through a garage door when Jacobs grabbed her again and threw her to the ground, causing her to hit her head. He also reportedly took her phone while she was down. The criminal complaint even says surveillance footage from the garage’s camera system backs up her statement. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst admitted this week that the team hasn’t even seen that video. He’s clinging to hope that Jacobs will somehow be available this season, saying, “we’re going to let this process play out, and we’ll be prepared either way.”
Who’s Carrying the Rock Now?
This is where the real on-field drama hits. Jacobs was a beast in 2025, ripping off 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. The problem? The Packers don’t have another running back who cracked more than 106 yards last season. They tried to patch the hole by acquiring 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. He’s joining a backfield that also includes 2024 third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks, with Pierre Strong Jr. chilling on the practice squad. With Jacobs’ court date landing smack dab before Week 1, and the distinct possibility of a long absence, the Packers are staring down the barrel of a major challenge. How this patchwork running back group performs right out of the gate is going to define a huge chunk of their early season. All eyes are on that Thursday hearing; the fate of Green Bay’s backfield depends on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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