The Green Bay Packers will open the 2026 season without one of their most important offensive weapons. On Sunday, the NFL announced that running back Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, a move that will keep him off the field as he continues to face legal proceedings stemming from a domestic incident earlier this year.
The move comes just days after Jacobs was formally charged with two misdemeanors — battery and criminal damage to property, both Class A misdemeanors under Wisconsin law — connected to a May arrest. At the time of that arrest, police had referred five potential charges for prosecution, including a felony strangulation and suffocation charge, along with disorderly conduct and intimidation of a victim, all tied to an alleged domestic incident with a woman in the garage of a shared home. Prosecutors ultimately moved forward with the two misdemeanor counts.
With the legal process ongoing, the NFL opted to use the Commissioner’s Exempt List rather than wait for a final resolution or issue immediate discipline under the personal conduct policy. The league has indicated its review of the matter is continuing separately from the criminal case.
The Commissioner’s Exempt List is a designation that only the NFL commissioner can apply for, and it functions as a form of paid administrative leave. While on the list:
- Jacobs cannot practice, play in games, or count against the Packers’ 53-man roster.
- He continues to be paid.
- With the team’s permission, he can still attend meetings, take part in individual workouts, and receive medical treatment at the facility.
There is no set timetable for his reinstatement. Only the commissioner has the authority to remove a player from the list, and the NFL is not obligated to wait until the criminal case concludes before making a decision. Jacobs’ initial court appearance isn’t scheduled until November — coinciding with Week 11 of the NFL season — which leaves open the possibility that his absence could stretch well into the year, though it’s also possible he’s reinstated sooner if the league completes its review.
In a statement released through Jacobs’ legal team — David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III — the running back’s camp emphasized that the designation is not a final ruling:
“Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which is an administrative procedure used by the NFL while a matter is being reviewed. It is not a final determination. Josh respects the NFL process, the Packers, and his Coaches and Teammates. He looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL.”
Jacobs, 28, is entering his third season in Green Bay after signing a four-year, $48 million deal in free agency in 2024. He rushed for 929 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns last season, helping the Packers reach the playoffs for a third consecutive year before falling to the rival Chicago Bears in the wild-card round.
Anticipating the possibility of a suspension or exempt-list designation, general manager Brian Gutekunst said the front office had been preparing contingency plans. Green Bay has since traded for running back Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, adding depth behind holdovers MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks. Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick who has appeared in just one career game due to injuries, is expected to get a significant opportunity to carry the load in Jacobs’ absence.
Head coach Matt LaFleur said before the announcement that he anticipated Jacobs remaining “a member of our team” but declined to speculate on his availability for the Packers’ regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 13.
For now, Jacobs’ immediate football future is on hold. The Packers must navigate the start of the season without their lead back, while the NFL continues gathering information before deciding on any further disciplinary action. Given the wide range of possible outcomes — from a return as early as Week 1 to an absence lasting deep into the season — Jacobs’ situation will remain one of the more closely watched storylines in the NFL as the 2026 season begins.
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