Packers’ Josh Jacobs will face two misdemeanor criminal charges

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs will face two criminal charges related to an alleged domestic abuse incident on May 23, the Brown County District Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.

After a months-long investigation, the district attorney ultimately decided to pursue two misdemeanor charges against Jacobs: battery and criminal damage to property.

Jacobs was initially arrested by the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department on May 26 on five charges relating to domestic abuse — felony strangulation and suffocation, and four misdemeanors: battery (domestic abuse), criminal damage to property (domestic abuse), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) and intimidation of a victim.

Jacobs was jailed but released the following day before appearing virtually in court after the district attorney’s office found insufficient evidence at the time to pursue criminal charges. The D.A.’s office also announced then that it would continue investigating Jacobs since it had reason to believe additional evidence existed that might change what/if any criminal charges were ultimately filed. With that step being taken, Jacobs and the Packers now await potential discipline from the NFL that would sideline him this season.

Outside of the day he was being released from jail, Jacobs has participated in every practice this offseason and preseason when healthy since the alleged incident. He missed almost two weeks earlier in training camp with a groin issue.

“We’ve talked internally,” starting quarterback Jordan Love said about Jacobs’ situation in early June. “Everyone knows what the situation is there and we’ve talked, but obviously, the details — everybody’s keeping that under wraps right now just out of respect for the situation and obviously all the legal stuff that’s gonna be playing out. But it’s great to have Josh here with us, being able to work with us and get back to work … I was shocked when I saw it, and like I said, it’s one of those things we’re going to let it play out. There’s a lot of uncertainty when you hear something like that of what might happen.”

Jacobs, whom the Packers signed to a four-year, $48 million contract in March 2024, received the backing of Love, other teammates and his head coach, Matt LaFleur. Jacobs has rushed for 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns in two seasons with the Packers and was voted by teammates as one of the offense’s three season-long captains last season.

“Josh has been great,” LaFleur said in early June. “He’s been great. It’s been great to have him around. He shows up every day with the same attitude, same mentality. I would expect nothing other than that.”

If Jacobs is suspended to start the season, third-year running back MarShawn Lloyd would become the starter and that position would suddenly be a major concern. Jacobs is a true feature back, but Lloyd has played in just one game over two seasons due to a litany of injuries. He has, however, participated in every practice of training camp, but it’ll be a tall task to remain healthy through actual games until Jacobs returns if the Packers keep their top running back.

This story will be updated.