NFL places Josh Jacobs on paid leave

Published August 30, 2026 02:50 PM As various teams and players brace for the possibility of paid leave, one key player for the Packers has gotten clarity.The NFL has announced that it has placed running back Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner Exempt list.Jacobs was arrested in May on five different counts arising from a domestic incident. He was formally charged this week with a pair of misdemeanors, including battery.The NFL has the ability to use paid leave in certain circumstances. The league regards the move as not punishment (even though it absolutely is).In theory, the paid leave lasts until the criminal case is resolved. That puts extra pressure on the player to accept a plea deal, when he otherwise could be inclined to fight the case through its normal conclusion. It’s also possible that he will be reinstated from paid leave before the prosecution ends. That happened two years ago with Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, who missed seven games on paid leave. After the 2024 season, he was acquitted.“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,” Jacobs’s lawyers said in a statement. “It is not a final determination. Josh respects the NFL process, the Packers, and his Coaches and Teammates. He looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL.”A first-round pick in 2019, Jacobs spent five years with the Raiders before signing with the Packers in 2024. He rushed for 1,329 yards during his first year in Green Bay and 929 in 2025. He scored 16 total touchdowns in 2024 and 14 last year.Jacobs has a base salary of $10.2 million. He’ll receive that money while on paid leave. Whether Jacobs will receive $41,176 in per-game roster bonuses likely depends on the specific language of his contract.Either way, the Packers won’t have Jacobs until further notice. His absence will create opportunities for other tailbacks on the team, including Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd.There’s apparently video of the incident that led to Jacobs’s charges. If/when it’s released, public opinion could turn sharply enough to make it hard for him to get back on the field. On Friday, coach Matt LaFleur said he expects Jacobs to be a member of the team.