Packers get a huge Josh Jacobs update at a turning point, with major questions still hanging over the running back
The Pro Bowl player will be removed from the Commissioner’s Exempt List next week, with the potential to play against the Detroit Lions in Week 7.
Josh Jacobs will still miss the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday night, but the Green Bay Packers finally received a positive update in regards to their Pro Bowl running back. Jacobs will be removed from the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List on Monday, the league confirmed via an official statement.
That means Jacobs will be available to practice again and play against the Detroit Lions in Week 7. With a major NFC North game looming, the timing is particularly relevant for the Packers.
It’s not a definitive situation
The NFL released a statement saying the league “initiated an investigation” following Jacobs’ arrest in May. The running back might still be suspended by the NFL at some point. However, the six games he will miss while on the Exempt List would count towards his suspension.
At this point, the Packers have paid Jacobs’ full base salary, including a $10.2 million base salary. If Jacobs gets suspended, he’d have to pay back the gamechecks. The only financial repercussion for the player so far is that Jacobs has $700,000 throughout the season in per-game active bonuses, and he won’t make the ones for the six games he lost.
Legal situation is mostly resolved
Jacobs was arrested on May 26, and incidents involving his ex-girlfriend occurred on May 23. He has already resolved his criminal case, pleading no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property. The plea means Jacobs agreed to resolve the case without fighting the charges, even though he did not formally admit guilt.
On the criminal damage to property charge, the court accepted Jacobs’ no contest plea on five conditions: no further criminal acts, no contact with the victim, supervision, counseling, and paying restitution to the victim. Jacobs has been ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus costs on the battery charge, and the deferred judgment agreement has been accepted.
The only legal part that’s still undecided is in regards to the potential release of video evidence of the original incident. Brown County District Court Judge Mark A. Hammer denied a request by the victim to have evidence permanently sealed and instead turned the matter over to the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, which conducted the criminal investigation in Brown County. Jacobs and his ex-girlfriend are legally trying to avoid the release of the video.
