Josh Jacobs Placed on Commissioner's Exempt List, August 30

The NFL placed Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list on Sunday, August 30, 2026, according to Front Office Sports. The placement renders Jacobs ineligible to play, practice, or attend games while the league reviews charges of misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property announced by the Brown County District Attorney's Office on Thursday, August 28.

Jacobs will be paid his salary while on the exempt list, per the reporting. He may be present at the Packers' facility on a reasonable basis for meetings, individual workouts, therapy, and rehabilitation, though only upon request and with the club's permission, according to NFL personal conduct policy cited by Front Office Sports. Jacobs and the NFL Players Association have three days after formal notification to appeal the league's decision.

The charges represent a downgrade from initial felony counts. Jacobs was arrested in May on felony strangulation and suffocation charges related to domestic abuse, according to Front Office Sports. The District Attorney's Office reduced the charges to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property on August 28.

Jacobs' legal team, represented by David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III, issued a statement per Front Office Sports: "Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which is an administrative procedure used by the NFL while a matter is being reviewed. It is not a final determination." Under NFL policy, paid leave generally lasts until a disciplinary ruling is made on a prospective fine or unpaid suspension, which typically comes after the player's criminal case concludes. Games missed while on paid leave are credited toward any subsequent unpaid suspension, with the player returning pay for the appropriate number of games, according to the reporting.

The timing affected roster moves around the league. The NFL imposed a 6 p.m. ET deadline Sunday for teams to reduce rosters to 53 players for the 2026 season. The Packers traded for Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson, a third-round pick from the 2025 draft out of Iowa, on August 30, per Front Office Sports and CBS Sports reporting.

Jacobs is entering the third season of a four-year, $48 million contract with Green Bay. According to Front Office Sports, he is a three-time Pro Bowl selection who has played seven NFL seasons with the Raiders and Packers. Last season, he ran for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The Seahawks placed cornerback Terrion Arnold on the exempt list on Saturday, August 29, per Front Office Sports. Arnold, previously released by the Lions, faces felony charges related to a kidnapping and robbery alleged in February. Arnold has denied the allegations through his representatives, according to the reporting.