Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs faces up to $20,000 in fines or up to 18 months in prison if he is convicted of two misdemeanor charges filed on Thursday by the Brown County (Wisconsin) District Attorney in connection to a May domestic abuse arrest.
Jacobs was charged with one count of battery and one count of criminal damage to property, according to Wisconsin court records. Each carry up to a nine-month jail sentence if Jacobs is convicted.
The formal charges filed by DA David L. Lasee come three months after Jacobs was arrested on charges following a domestic situation at his home near Green Bay.
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Jacobs was originally arrested on charges stemming from a May 23 incident and was booked on charges of felony strangulation/suffocation, domestic-abuse battery, domestic-abuse criminal damage to property, domestic-abuse disorderly conduct and intimidation of a victim.
Lasee filed charges against Jacobs after promising to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. That investigation, obviously, led the DA to file lesser charges and not the felony charge.
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The battery charge stems from what Lasee is contending was evidence that shows Jacobs “did cause bodily harm to [his ex-girlfriend] by an act done with intent to cause bodily harm to that person, without the person’s consent …”
The second charge, according to Lasee, is the result of Jacobs causing “damage to the physical property of another, a phone, belonging to [his ex-girlfriend] … without consent…”
“Our office sought to ensure a fair and complete review of available evidence, some of which only recently became available to our office due to significant, ongoing forensic efforts by law enforcement,” Lasee said in a statement.
“A criminal complaint is nothing more than a written, formal accusation against a defendant alleging the commission of criminal offenses and does not raise any inference of guilt.
“Mr. Jacobs is presumed innocent of these charges. As this is an ongoing criminal case, and out of respect for the rights of all parties, our office will not have further comment on the matter at this time.”
The attorneys representing Jacobs – David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Clarence F. Duchac III. – released a statement that seemingly took a victory lap over the lesser charges being applied.
“The Brown County District Attorney has reviewed evidence and elected to file misdemeanor charges against Josh that do not include domestic violence,” the statement reads. “The allegations will be addressed in court, and not in the media. Mr. Jacobs respects the District Attorney’s office and the process it followed.”
The NFL has been monitoring the events of this situation from the time Jacobs was arrested and will continue to do so, per a league spokesperson.
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Jacobs is subject to discipline under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy regardless of the outcome of the next legal steps, be that a trial, a plea-bargain or even an outright dropping of the changes because the policy frowns upon negative publicity being shined on the NFL.
That means the NFL does not necessarily have to wait for a trial. It can discipline Jacobs for his arrest. But while that possibility exists, it is more likely the NFL will finish its investigation when the legal process has concluded.
Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst said at a news conference this week that the Packers are prepared for whatever circumstances this saga brings and that includes in the possibility of a suspension during the 2026 season.
The Packers being prepared seems hard to believe because MarShawn Lloyd is Green Bay’s backup running back at the moment, and he has only played one regular-season game in his career, that coming in 2024.
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Lloyd hasn’t so far been impressive in preseason games.
The team also has Pierre Strong, Jr., and Chris Brooks, both of whom have regular-season experience, on the roster.
Any long-term suspension of Jacobs might obviously lead to the Packers bringing in more running back help.
