A disturbance complaint leading to his arrest, followed up by a release and practice attendance.
By: Hannah Vore
June 3, 2026
All eyes have been on the Green Bay Packers this past week with chaos in the running back department. Josh Jacobs, star running back, was arrested with five different charges on May 26.
Initial Arrest and Charges
According to the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, he was charged with four misdemeanors of battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, and intimidation of a victim, as well as a strangulation and suffocation felony.
These charges came after authorities responded to a disturbance complaint on the morning of May 23. Following an initial investigation, officials booked Jacobs into the Brown County Jail in Wisconsin on May 26.
Ongoing Investigation and Release
He was then released from jail on May 27 due to a lack of evidence. According to a media release statement from the Brown County District Attorney, David L. Lassee, the investigation is still ongoing.
“Our office has requested additional investigation, as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate, and what charges would be issued,” said Lassee.
The statement also noted that while arrests are based on probable cause, the District Attorney’s office must apply a higher standard when making the decision to file formal charges.
Legal Defense Statements
Two separate statements were made by Jacobs’ attorneys following the arrest last Tuesday. The first one states:
“Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public. We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course,” said David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence Duchac.
After Jacobs’ release last Wednesday, his attorneys published another statement.
“We are extremely pleased that Josh has been released from custody and that no criminal charges have been filed against him. As we previously stated, we encourage everyone to keep an open mind while the matter is fully reviewed. We remain confident that, once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future,” said Chesnoff, Schonfeld, and Duchac.
NFL Disciplinary Considerations
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Jacobs could be looking at a lengthy suspension regardless of the legal outcome.
“Under the [NFL’s] collective bargaining agreement, the baseline suspension for any domestic violence offense is a minimum, a minimum, of six games,” said Schefter.
Roster Implications and Team Response
If this were to occur, the Packers would have to rely on their second-string running back, MarShawn Lloyd. However, Lloyd lacks significant playing time and has missed most of his first two seasons due to injuries.
“I think he’s done everything he can in his power to put himself in the best possible position, but he’s just going to have to go out there and prove it,” said Matt LaFleur, Packers head coach.
LaFleur was asked whether or not he should prepare for the possibility of Jacobs’ suspension.
“I think a lot is going to happen between now and then,” said LaFleur.
Prosecutors continue to investigate the situation to determine if charges should be filed, and the NFL could conduct their own investigation as well. Meanwhile, Jacobs returned to the Packers' practice on Tuesday for the second week of organized team activities (OTAs).
When asked if his presence was a distraction, LaFleur’s response was, “I would say business as usual.”
Career Background and Legacy
The 28-year-old running back is entering his third season with the Packers. He played five seasons for the Las Vegas Raiders (previously known as the Oakland Raiders) from 2019-2024 before being released as a free agent.
Jacobs is a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2020, 2022, 2024), a First-team All-Pro (2022), and was the 2022 NFL Rushing Yards leader with 1,653 yards.
As the investigation continues, a lot of questions are being raised.
“There’s a lot of different ways this can go, almost none of them are good, short of him being exonerated,” said Schefter.
Byline:
Hannah Vore is a sports journalist intern for Sportsmedia News.