Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs will return from the commissioner exempt list on Monday and is eligible to play in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions. Jacobs was placed on paid leave in August following a May domestic abuse arrest in northern Wisconsin.
The Green Bay Packers are set to welcome running back Josh Jacobs back to the active fold. The NFL announced Friday that Jacobs will be removed from the commissioner exempt list on Monday.
League officials stated that the ongoing investigation into Jacobs’ May 26 arrest remains active.
Statement on behalf of Josh Jacobs’ attorneys Clarence F. Duchac III, David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld:“Josh has dedicated the last several months to bettering himself, and he accepts responsibility for his actions. He is excited to get back to work and on the field… https://t.co/L2qW1saqYS
Jacobs is eligible to take the field on October 25 as the Packers face the Detroit Lions in Week 7.
Jacobs Fights Release of Altercation Footage
Jacobs was arrested in northern Wisconsin on May 26 following an incident three days prior where he allegedly grabbed a woman attempting to leave his garage and threw her to the ground. He was formally charged with two counts of battery and criminal damage to property, and he pleaded no contest to both charges last month.
Legal representatives for the running back have filed a civil suit seeking an injunction and protective order to prevent public release of records, including surveillance footage of the altercation. The Brown County district attorney stated that surveillance footage outside Jacobs’ garage corroborates the victim’s account.
NFL Applies Personal Conduct Policy
With baseline punishment for domestic battery under the Personal Conduct Policy set at six games, the league can pre-suspend a player on paid leave while internal investigations continue. If a suspension is ultimately imposed, the player gets credit for the games missed while on paid leave and forfeits the pay received during those missed games.
Jacobs’ legal team has worked to keep evidence including altercation footage private. The league reinstates him while the NFL wants to review the video before it closes his case.
Until it sees the video, it won’t know whether the video contains images that would justify a much more serious penalty.
Josh Jacobs eligible to play next week against the Lions. https://t.co/eTIIY6ZZv8
Josh has dedicated the last several months to bettering himself, and he accepts responsibility for his actions. Josh is grateful for the support he is receiving from his teammates, coaches, the Packers organization, and the greatest fans in the world. Since there are ongoing legal matters, he will not have any further comment.
Clarence F. Duchac III, David Z. Chesnoff and Richard A. Schonfeld
Attorneys for Jacobs also reported that their client is excited to get back to work following the league’s announcement.
What penalty the NFL will ultimately impose after reviewing the video remains unknown.
News: Josh Jacobs is being removed from the Commissioner Exempt List on Monday and will be eligible to practice and play next week. The NFL investigation is ongoing and he can still be suspended, but as of now he’ll be at practice next week before the Packers visit the Lions. pic.twitter.com/1OR9CGo3Gn
More on Josh Jacobs
🚨 Packers’ Josh Jacobs is being removed from the NFL’s Commissioner Exempt list on Monday.Jacobs is expected to be eligible to play in Week 7. pic.twitter.com/67SbO23WvF
The NFL is removing Packers RB Josh Jacobs and Broncos OLB Jonathan Cooper from the commissioner's exempt list on Monday. Both will be eligible to play for the their teams in Week 7.Seahawks CB Terrion Arnold's status remains unchanged. He's still on the exempt list.
The NFL is continuing its investigation into Packers RB Josh Jacobs but he is being removed from the NFL’s Commissioner Exempt List, per @AdamSchefter He is expected to be eligible to play Week 7 vs. the Lions in Detroit
