Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has offered an apology to his teammates and spoken publicly for the first time since his reinstatement to the team, following his removal from the commissioner's exempt list last week.
Jacobs was absent for the initial six weeks of the 2026 season. This absence stemmed from an offseason domestic abuse arrest in May, which led to his placement on the commissioner's exempt list on August 30.
Despite Jacobs entering a plea of no contest to both misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property, the league's investigation into his situation remains active. The NFL has clarified that his removal from the exempt list does not impede their ongoing inquiry, although it permits him to rejoin the Packers.
Ahead of his potential season debut — the team has not yet confirmed if Jacobs will participate in Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions — Jacobs met with reporters, conveying his regret for the circumstances.
Jacobs Addresses Incident and Remorse
During his media availability, Jacobs stated, "Excited to be back with the team, with the guys." He also extended gratitude, saying, "I want to say thank you to the organization really for supporting me throughout this whole process and how everything played out."
He further elaborated on his situation, noting, "With that being said, I can’t really get into a lot of things, like specifics of things, but obviously I’m remorseful, and sorry for putting this time in this situation." Jacobs reflected on the swift impact of decisions, adding, "Sometimes, when you go through life, situations occur, and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life honestly. With that being said, still a human being, man, still trying to learn, still trying to grow from the whole process. Actually learned a lot throughout this whole process, legally and just personally."
As part of his plea agreement, Jacobs was mandated to pay a $1,000 fine, participate in counseling, provide restitution for damaged property, and refrain from any further contact with the victim. Should he fulfill these conditions for a period of one year, the charge of property damage will be dismissed.
Jacobs' arrest in Wisconsin occurred after an incident three days prior, where he was accused of grabbing his former girlfriend as she attempted to leave his garage and throwing her to the ground.
Additionally, Jacobs initiated a civil suit last week, seeking an injunction and protective order concerning evidence, specifically surveillance footage of the incident. This action aims to restrict public access to the case's records. Reports indicated that the video footage of the alleged battery could corroborate the victim's assertions.
Jacobs expressed his determination to move forward from the event, stating he is "just trying to be better."
"I know for some people this might be a stain on me and my character," he acknowledged. "I feel like I don’t have to really speak on my character. A lotta people that know me in this locker room, or that’s been around me, I’ll let them do that. For me, man, I’m just trying to come back in here, play ball, learn from this mistake and move forward."
Coach LaFleur on Jacobs' Return and Team Impact
Head coach Matt LaFleur also commented on Jacobs' return during his news conference on Wednesday.
"I think a lot of times you get in a situation where you might not make the right decision," LaFleur said regarding Jacobs' circumstances. "I think people learn from their mistakes. I think he’s extremely remorseful, and I do believe he is a good person. I’ve been around him quite a bit. I believe in second chances."
With Jacobs sidelined, the Packers' rushing offense has struggled significantly. The current depth chart, featuring MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., and Kaleb Johnson, whom Green Bay acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers, has contributed to an average of just 59.8 rushing yards per game. In contrast, the team's passing game ranks among the top five in the league, averaging 269.3 yards, with quarterback Jordan Love finding his rhythm during the team's recent three-game winning streak, bringing their record to 4-2.
LaFleur indicated earlier in the week that Jacobs was in a "pretty good spot" concerning his availability to play against the Lions. However, he cautioned, "He’s been training, but he’s missed the exposure to football. [His availability] is going to be determined throughout the course of the week, see where he’s at, see how he’s feeling, and then we’ll make a decision."
Last season, Jacobs recorded 929 rushing yards across 15 games and finished fourth in the NFL for rushing touchdowns with 13.
