Josh Jacobs Returns to Packers After Six Game Absence

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs acknowledged his mistakes and expressed regret Wednesday as he prepared to return to the field after missing the first six games of the NFL regular season. The league removed Jacobs from the commissioner exempt list Monday, clearing him to play against the Detroit Lions on Sunday while its investigation into his conduct remains active.

Jacobs had been barred from practicing and playing since the start of the regular season following his May arrest after an incident involving a woman at his home near Green Bay. He pleaded no contest on September 10 to charges of battery and criminal destruction of property arising from the May 23 incident.

Jacobs was convicted of battery and fined $1,000. He also reached a deferred judgment agreement on the property damage charge. The six games he missed will count toward any suspension the NFL may impose, according to the league's disciplinary process.

In his first public comments since the arrest, Jacobs apologized to the organization and described his intention to learn from the incident. He acknowledged that the situation could affect how some people view him.

"I'm remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation. Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly. But with that being said, still a human being, man, still trying to learn, still trying to grow from the whole process.

I know for some people this might be a stain on me and my character. I feel like I don't have to really speak on my character. A lot of people that know me in this locker room or that's been around me, I'll let them do that.

But for me, man, I'm just trying to come back in here and play ball, learn from this mistake and move forward," Jacobs said.

Although Jacobs believed six games was a significant absence, he said he was grateful to rejoin the team rather than challenge the length of his time away. He had remained permitted to visit the team facility and work out during his placement on the exempt list.

"I think six games was a lot, honestly, but that's not really up to me to decide. I'm grateful to be playing, so that's not even something that I'm like arguing or petitioning with. I'm just happy to be back on the team," Jacobs said.

Jacobs also described the time away as an opportunity to reconsider his priorities and recognize the people who continued supporting him. The Packers had allowed him to participate in the offseason program and training camp before the regular season began.

"I would say obviously you never want to be in this situation, but just me being honest, for my life, it was probably one of the best things to ever happen to me. I say that because it gave me a chance to sit down and reevaluate what's important and what I want my life to look like, and what do I want people to know me for. When they think of me, what are they going to say?

Another thing that it showed me, man, was the people that were in my corner. A lot of people I didn't even know or even expect to be in my corner, they showed up. So that was huge for me.

It just gave me more appreciation, more love honestly for this organization and this team," Jacobs said.

Jacobs declined to focus on winning back public approval, saying he understood that people could continue to have negative feelings about the incident. He said he intended to concentrate on his responsibilities as a teammate and community leader.

"I'm not trying to win nobody back. And that's just me being all the way honest, because at the end of the day, like I said, I know what happened, and if you feel some type of way, obviously I feel bad because it's still a situation occurred and it should've never even happened. So that's something that I still will understand if people feel some type of way about it, but like I said, all I can do is keep showing up and being who I am, being a leader for this team, being a leader in this community and that's really all I can control," Jacobs said.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur expressed support for Jacobs, citing his belief that people can learn from their mistakes and deserve opportunities to move forward. The coach said his experience working with the running back had shaped his view of the situation.

"I think a lot of times you get in a situation where you might not make the right decision. I think people learn from their mistakes, and I think he's extremely remorseful and I do believe that he's a good person. I've been around him quite a bit and I just, I believe in second chances," LaFleur said.

The NFL's investigation remains open partly because surveillance footage from Jacobs' garage, where part of the incident occurred, exists. Jacobs and the woman have both filed lawsuits seeking to have the evidence permanently sealed. Jacobs declined to say whether he had made payments to the woman beyond those required by the court.

The Packers have struggled to run the ball without Jacobs, ranking last in the NFL at 59.8 rushing yards per game. According to the team's records, Jacobs led Green Bay in rushing in each of the previous two seasons. Across 2024 and 2025, he ranked eighth in the league with 2,258 combined rushing yards and tied for fourth with 28 rushing touchdowns.

Quarterback Jordan Love indicated that Jacobs could receive substantial work in his return, although the team would assess his readiness after the extended absence. Jacobs had not technically practiced with the team since the end of training camp because Green Bay held a walkthrough Wednesday.

"We'll give Josh as many touches as he needs, try to get him rolling. Obviously first game back for him, he's missed a lot of time, so it's one of those things we'll see," Love said.

Jacobs was expected to practice Thursday ahead of Sunday's game against Detroit. Love was also expected to practice after appearing on the injury report for the first time this season with a back injury. He was listed as a limited participant based on an estimate because the team did not conduct a full practice.