ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports that Josh Jacobs does not expect to miss additional games despite the NFL’s ongoing investigation into new allegations of abuse. Jacobs missed the first six games of the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which would count toward any potential suspension. While Jacobs remains confident he has served his suspension, the league’s investigation is ongoing, leaving some risk of additional discipline. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has expressed confidence that Jacobs will remain with the team.
Jacobs has struggled mightily with efficiency since returning, ranking dead last among 58 qualifying running backs in PlayerProfiler’s Yards Created Per Rush metric. However, touchdowns and receiving usage have salvaged his fantasy production. Jacobs is averaging 19.8 Weighted Opportunities per game, second-most in the NFL. With the Packers’ offensive line struggling to open running lanes, a significant efficiency rebound appears unlikely without reinforcements. Green Bay has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Jonathan Taylor ahead of the trade deadline, though insiders reportedly believe the Packers lack the draft capital to make a serious push for the Colts star. Jacobs remains a solid RB2 when active, but managers thin at running back should secure insurance, as he’s not entirely in the clear.
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (knee) was ...
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd faces a ...
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd rushed 10 ...
Jacobs pleaded no contest in September to misdemeanor battery charges from a May 23 incident. Further NFL discipline remains possible as the league’s review is still open, though the six games he has already missed would be credited toward any potential suspension. Last season, Jacobs ran 234 times for 929 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 15.8 fantasy points per game (RB9 overall).
Jacobs’ return should give Green Bay’s backfield a much needed boost, which currently ranks dead last in the NFL at 59.8 rushing yards per game. MarShawn Lloyd has only mustered 112 yards on 40 carries (2.8 YPC) as the lead back, while Kaleb Johnson has fumbled his way out of a bigger role. Pierre Strong Jr. has mixed in on passing downs, and eaten into some of Lloyd’s workload as of late, but Jacobs will get ample opportunity to retake this backfield, though the Packers may choose to ease him back in given the amount of time he has missed.
Schefter has noted that the investigation against Josh Jacobs’ domestic abuse allegations will remain open, and the NFL reserves the right to add additional discipline if it determines it is merited. That being said, as of now it appears as though Jacobs will be eligible to suit up for the Packers’ week 7 matchup against the Lions.
As Jacobs is not eligible to play this week, the Packers will need to continue to reply on the trio of Marshawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong and Kaleb Johnson for their week 6 matchup against a Detroit Lions defense allowing 102 rushing yards per game. If week 6 workloads are an indicator, it will be Lloyd (43% snap share) and Strong (41% snap share) leading the way, with Kaleb Johnson relegated to cleanup duty (season low, 7% snap share) after a costly week 4 fumble.
According to Rob Demovsky “Packers running back Josh Jacobs has filed a civil suit seeking a permanent injunction which restricts the access to records from his May 23rd altercation with a woman at his home”. Jacobs is currently on the commissioners exempt list with no clear indication on when he will return to the team.
There’s been no clear running back rotation for the Packers in Jacobs absence. MarShawn Lloyd had 13 carries in week 1, but was out carried by Kaleb Johnson 8 to 6 in week 2. In week 4 Johnson out carried Lloyd 8 to 7, but in week 5 Lloyd had 10 carries to Johnson’s 7. The Packers running back room remains a question mark until the Josh Jacobs situation resolves.
Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioners Exempt List on August 30th. The hearing being moved up 2 months could lead to a much earlier resolution to Jacobs’ status for 2026 – and potentially beyond. While Jacobs did struggle a bit last year in efficiency, partly due to playing through nagging injuries, ranking 48th in True Yards Per Carry in 2025 amongst RB’s with a minimum of 200 snaps, there is little doubt that if he returns that he will be the lead back.
Jacobs is currently ranked RB52 in the PlayerProfiler redraft rankings and RB46 in dynasty. This news bolsters his chances of playing this season, as the quicker the legal case is settled, the greater the chance that the NFL decides their potential punishment. The NFL-NFLPA CBA calls for a 6-game baseline suspension if he is found in violation of Domestic Violence under the NFL Personal Conduct Policy. Important disclaimer: If video of the incident leaks and it looks bad, the NFL could suspend him indefinitely, as they did with Ray Rice back in 2014. Rice never played another down in the NFL.
Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List following misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property, stemming from an incident at his home on May 23. While general manager Brian Gutekunst did not provide a definitive timeline for his return, his comments are to date, the first indicator that the organization expects him to play for Green Bay at some point this season.
Even though Gutekunst stopped short of setting an exact return date, the expectation that Jacobs will eventually suit up should help stabilize his freefall in redraft (currently RB52) and dynasty formats (currently RB46). Fantasy managers who drafted him in late August may yet be rewarded with a discounted, quality running back who finished No. 14 in PlayerProfiler’s Yards Created metric, assuming he returns without missing significant time.
