GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers are continuing to back running back Josh Jacobs even after police records released last week revealed additional allegations from several women that predate the May incident that led to his arrest.
Those newly publicized records show three women came forward after Jacobs’ earlier arrest. Coach Matt LaFleur said the team will let the NFL’s investigation play out but expects Jacobs to remain with the roster. “We’re going to allow the NFL to do its process, but I would anticipate him being a member of us moving forward,” he said, adding he had nothing more to add.
Jacobs’ lawyers called the earlier accusations “unsupported and stale allegations” in a statement released Sunday, two days after the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department published records tied to his May 23 arrest following an incident at his home near Green Bay.
In September, Jacobs pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors: he was convicted of battery, fined $1,000, and agreed to a deferred judgment on a damage-to-property charge. The Packers have maintained their support throughout, reinstating Jacobs to play in Week 7 after he was removed from the NFL’s commissioner-exempt list. He has appeared in the last two games while the league’s investigation remains open; the six games Jacobs spent on the exempt list would count toward any future suspension.
Asked why the team continues to stand by him, LaFleur declined to go into detail, saying again that he’d let the process run its course. He also addressed Jacobs’ touchdown celebration against Carolina — when the player placed his hands behind his back — saying Jacobs told him the gesture was a nod to the gospel song “Break Every Chain,” not a comment on his legal situation. LaFleur said they discussed it privately and would move on.
On the field, Jacobs’ return hasn’t fixed Green Bay’s rushing struggles. In two games he has 32 carries for 75 yards and one rushing touchdown, plus 11 catches for 68 yards and two receiving touchdowns, while the Packers remain the NFL’s poorest rushing offense.
Fan Take: This matters because how teams handle players facing legal and conduct issues shapes public trust and the league’s image; fans want clarity and consistency from organizations and the NFL. If roster decisions appear to prioritize on-field talent over accountability, it could prompt tougher policies and increased scrutiny leaguewide.
Source: www.espn.com
