Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been formally charged with two misdemeanor offenses stemming from a May incident at his home in Wisconsin, adding another layer of uncertainty around the veteran running back ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
The Brown County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint Thursday, Aug. 27, charging Jacobs with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. The charges follow a May 23 disturbance at Jacobs’ home in the Village of Hobart and his subsequent arrest on May 26.
Jacobs was initially arrested on five allegations, including battery involving domestic abuse, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim. Prosecutors ultimately filed only the two misdemeanor charges announced Thursday. No felony strangulation charge was filed.
Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said prosecutors waited to file charges while investigators continued reviewing evidence. According to his office, some evidence became available only recently as part of ongoing forensic work.
Lasee also emphasized that the criminal complaint is a formal accusation rather than a finding of guilt and that Jacobs remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What the complaint alleges
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Jacobs’ residence on the morning of May 23 following an open 911 call in which dispatchers reportedly heard yelling and swearing before the call ended.
Authorities later spoke with Jacobs’ girlfriend, who alleged that an argument began after she discovered communications between Jacobs and other women. The complaint alleges that the dispute escalated into a physical confrontation and that Jacobs threw her to the ground, causing her to strike her head.
Investigators also reviewed surveillance footage that authorities said supported portions of the account. The complaint alleges that Jacobs subsequently took the woman’s phone and damaged it.
The allegations remain unproven, and Jacobs has not been convicted of either offense.
Jacobs' attorneys respond
Jacobs’ attorneys, David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Clarence F. Duchac III, acknowledged the charges in a statement and said the allegations would be addressed through the court process rather than in the media.
The attorneys also noted that the charges filed Thursday do not include domestic-violence designations.
Packers and NFL situation
The legal case could also have implications for Jacobs’ availability during the upcoming NFL season.
Jacobs has remained with the Packers since his arrest and has participated in the team's offseason program and training camp, although he has been limited recently by a groin injury.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said the organization has been preparing for the possibility that Jacobs could miss time because of a league suspension. The NFL has not announced disciplinary action against Jacobs, and the league is continuing to monitor developments.
That distinction is important: the filing of criminal charges does not automatically determine whether Jacobs will be suspended by the NFL. Any league discipline would be handled separately under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
A significant development for Green Bay
Jacobs remains one of the most important pieces of Green Bay’s offense. He joined the Packers as a free agent in 2024 and immediately established himself as the team's lead back, rushing for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first season with Green Bay. He followed that with 929 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in 2025.
If Jacobs were to miss games, the Packers would have to rely more heavily on their other running backs, including MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks.
For now, the immediate next step is the court process. Jacobs is scheduled for an initial court appearance in Brown County in November, according to local reports. The criminal case remains pending, while the Packers and NFL await further developments.
The charges represent a significant development from the May arrest, but they are allegations only. Any determination of Jacobs’ criminal liability will ultimately be made through the judicial process.
