The NFL has placed Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner exempt list following the filing of two misdemeanor charges stemming from his arrest earlier this year, according to ESPN sources.
Jacobs was charged last week by the Brown County District Attorney’s Office in Wisconsin with misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property, marking a significant development in a legal case that began with his May 26 arrest.
The Packers running back was initially arrested on five counts, including a felony charge, but the case has since been reduced to the two misdemeanor allegations filed by prosecutors, according to the information reported by ESPN and other outlets.
Under his placement on the commissioner exempt list, Jacobs will continue to receive his salary but will not be permitted to practice with the Packers or attend their games while he remains on the list, creating an immediate setback for Green Bay as the regular season approaches.
Jacobs also will not count against the Packers’ 53-man roster limit during his time on the exempt list, giving the team additional flexibility as it prepares to operate without one of its most important offensive players.
The situation comes at a particularly significant point for Green Bay, with Jacobs expected to play a major role in the Packers’ rushing attack after establishing himself as one of the league’s premier running backs and a multi-time Pro Bowl selection.
Green Bay has already made a move to strengthen its backfield by acquiring running back Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, while MarShawn Lloyd is expected to receive a substantially larger role if Jacobs remains unavailable.
Jacobs’ legal proceedings are scheduled to continue with an initial court appearance on November 17, a date that coincides with the Packers’ scheduled bye week, according to the information provided by ESPN and other reports.
The commissioner exempt designation leaves the timing of Jacobs’ return uncertain, while the Packers must prepare their offense for the possibility of an extended absence as they enter a season in which expectations remain high around the team.
For Green Bay, the development also carries major implications for its offensive planning and fantasy football outlook, as Jacobs had been expected to serve as a central figure in the team’s ground game before the legal case altered his immediate availability.