Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges at the Brown County Courthouse this Thursday, per The Athletic. This sets the stage for the NFL to potentially hand down a suspension in the near future.
The court accepted Jacobs' no-contest plea to the damage-to-property charge with five conditions, per ESPN. He cannot commit any further criminal acts; he must have no contact with the victim; there must be supervision and counseling; and Jacobs will pay restitution to the victim.
"I fully understand the seriousness of the situation and I take full responsibility," Jacobs said during the hearing, per Matt Schneidman.
Jacobs was placed on the NFL's commissioner's exempt list last month as the league investigated his May arrest. While on the exempt list, Jacobs is not allowed to practice with the team or attend games. The All-Pro running back was able to get his court hearing -- initially scheduled for Nov. 17 -- moved up to this Thursday.
Despite Thursday's developments, the NFL said in a statement there is no change to Jacob's status on the commissioner's exempt list.
"We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review of the personal conduct policy. There is no change to his status as he remains on the commissioner's exempt list."
Jacobs' attorneys, who were David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac, issued a statement on Thursday's resolution:
"Josh Jacobs today agreed to enter a plea of guilty or no contest to one count of Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property and one count of Misdemeanor Battery in Brown County Circuit Court. The State recommended and the Judge issued a fine of $1000 plus costs as sentence for the Battery Count. Under the terms of the agreement, the Court will suspend the proceeding on the Criminal Damage to Property Count for 12 months, at which time it will be dismissed upon completion of the terms of the agreement.
With this agreement, Josh has accepted responsibility for his conduct and resolved this matter. Today's resolution is set against a career long history of Josh's community work while in the NFL, which has centered on the circumstances of his early life..."
Jacobs, a three-time Pro Bowler, is regarded as one of the best backs in the NFL. In 2024, which was his first season with the Packers, Jacobs rushed 301 times for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. Last season in 15 games played, he rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns. Those 28 rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth-most in the NFL over the last two years, and he's 1 of 15 players all-time to have 7,500 yards rushing and 75 total touchdowns over their first seven NFL seasons.
With Jacobs out indefinitely, MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and recent trade-addition Kaleb Johnson will be called upon to tote the rock for Matt LaFleur. The Packers open up the regular season in Minnesota against the rival Vikings on Sunday.
How long will Jacobs be suspended?
While the NFL has come out and said that Jacobs remains on the commissioner's exempt list, the general consensus is that he will be removed at some point in the near future and handed a suspension. With that said, the league's investigation moves at its own pace.
While Jacobs has been handed a decision by the court, this does not mean he will be suspended fewer or more games. What it does do is open the door for the league to potentially conclude its investigation in an expeditious manner. When it comes to domestic violence, the collective bargaining agreement points to a suspension of six games. However, we've seen cases where players receive more severe suspensions, such as James Pearce Jr. with his eight-game suspension this year, and less severe punishments, such as when Von Miller was issued a four-game suspension in 2024 after violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
The last major suspension issued by the league that did not include performance-enhancing substances was with Pearce Jr. The Atlanta Falcons pass rusher was initially charged with three felonies following a February arrest which involved him chasing his ex-girlfriend's vehicle: Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. Pearce's legal team struck an agreement in April where if he completed a pre-trial intervention program and stayed out of trouble for six months, all charges would be dismissed. The NFL handed him an eight-game suspension in August.
