Josh Jacobs entered Green Bay Packers training camp with two separate questions hanging over his 2026 season. One involves a groin injury. The more serious one involves an unresolved legal matter and the possibility of NFL discipline.
No suspension has been announced yet, but Jacobs remains under review by the league after his May arrest, while the Brown County District Attorney’s Office has not filed formal criminal charges.
What Happened to Josh Jacobs?
Police responded to a disturbance complaint involving Jacobs on May 23 in Hobart, Wis. He was arrested and booked into Brown County Jail on suspicion of battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim.
Jacobs’ attorneys said he “vehemently denies the allegations.” The running back was released from custody on May 27 after prosecutors said they were not prepared to make a formal charging decision and had requested additional investigation.
The case has remained unresolved. The Brown County District Attorney’s Office said in late July that the investigation was “still open” and an update would be provided once a resolution was reached. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst also described it as an ongoing legal situation, with Green Bay and the NFL waiting for the process to play out.
That distinction is important. Jacobs was arrested, but as of Aug. 21, no formal criminal charges have been filed against him.
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Will Jacobs Be Suspended by NFL?
A suspension remains possible, but it is not confirmed.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Aug. 11 that Jacobs’ situation is “still under review” and remains a “pending situation” with the NFL. Schefter said discipline is still a potential option as the league works through several unresolved player cases before the regular season.
The NFL’s conduct policy allows discipline independent of the outcome of a criminal case. Its baseline punishment for a violation involving assault, battery, or domestic violence is six games without pay, although mitigating or aggravating circumstances can change the length.
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Green Bay therefore cannot assume Jacobs will be available when it opens the season Sept. 13 at the Minnesota Vikings, according to the official schedule. The league has not announced a decision or timetable.
His potential absence would be substantial. Jacobs rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season while adding 282 receiving yards and another score. He posted a 76.5 PFN RB Impact score last season, ranking 16th among qualifying running backs.
For now, Jacobs remains eligible to participate when healthy. He is also working back from the separate groin injury that has limited him during camp.
The legal process and the NFL review are moving on different tracks. Until either produces a resolution, Green Bay’s Week 1 backfield comes with an unusually large asterisk.
