Green Bay Packers’ RB Josh Jacobs pleads no contest to misdemeanor charges, avoids jail time

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges Thursday stemming from a May altercation with his girlfriend. The plea was entered in Brown County court in Wisconsin, where the battery complaint resulted in a $1,000 fine plus court costs. Proceedings on the criminal damage complaint were deferred for 12 months and will be dismissed if Jacobs satisfies the conditions of the agreement. Those conditions require him to avoid contact with the alleged victim, refrain from further criminal activity, attend counseling, remain under criminal justice supervision and pay restitution. A follow‑up court date has been set for Sept. 10, 2027. Addressing the judge, Jacobs said, “I afloat recognize the seriousness of the concern and I instrumentality afloat responsibility.” He then left the courthouse without speaking to reporters. Jacobs was arrested May 26 after police responded to a disturbance call at his home in the Hobart area near Green Bay. He was initially booked on five possible offenses, including felony strangulation, but prosecutors filed the two misdemeanor charges in August after reviewing additional evidence. Following the charges, the NFL placed Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list, which bars him from practicing or playing while allowing him to continue receiving his salary. The resolution of the criminal case leaves Jacobs’ NFL status as the next major question. The league has not announced a suspension, but Thursday’s plea clears the way for the NFL to complete its review and determine whether further discipline will be imposed. Jacobs, 28, rushed for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season and is entering the third year of a four‑year, $48 million contract with Green Bay. Editorial credit: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com