The NFL has placed Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on paid administrative leave after he was charged with misdemeanors related to alleged domestic abuse. Jacobs, who faces charges including battery and criminal damage to property, will remain on the commissioner’s exempt list and be ineligible to practice or participate in games while the matter is reviewed. This move was announced just before the league’s roster cut deadline to 53 players for the season.

Jacobs’s legal troubles stem from an arrest in May when he was initially charged with more serious offenses such as felony strangulation and suffocation. His attorneys have emphasized that the exemption is a procedural step and not a final judgment, showing his respect for the NFL’s process and expressing his desire to return to play. While on the exempt list, Jacobs will continue to receive his salary but cannot attend Packers practices or games, although he may participate in certain non-football activities with club permission.

The NFL’s personal conduct policy states that players on the exempt list typically remain there until a disciplinary decision is made, which usually follows the conclusion of the player’s criminal case. The paid leave counts toward any future suspension, and Jacobs has three days to appeal the league’s decision after formal notification. The conduct policy specifically allows for paid leave in cases involving felony or violent crime allegations pending investigation.

Now entering the third year of his four-year, $48 million contract, Jacobs has a distinguished seven-season career with three Pro Bowl appearances, including last season’s strong production for the Packers with 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. In response to Jacobs’s leave, the Packers have already traded for running back Kaleb Johnson from the Steelers to help bolster their backfield depth. This development adds a significant wrinkle to both Jacobs’s career and the Packers’ roster plans ahead of the 2026 NFL season.