Packers Receive Big News on Josh Jacobs Right Before Start of Season
The Green Bay Packers are preparing to travel to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 13 in Week 1 with the possibility that star running back Josh Jacobs will not be available to play.
The NFL placed Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list, meaning he's not allowed to practice or play in games. Jacobs was formally charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property last week by the Brown County District Attorney in connection with an alleged incident in May.
Per multiple reports, the initial court appearance for Jacobs has been moved up to Sept. 10, days before the Packers are set to play Minnesota.
"As Michael Gross said, Josh Jacobs' initial court appearance is now Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. after initially being scheduled for November 17, according to Wisconsin court records," ESPN's Rob Demovsky posted on X.
It remains to be seen if the move-up date will expedite Jacobs' future on the commissioner's exempt list.
Earlier this week, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur backed his running back, saying that he believed what Jacobs was telling him about the incident.
Per the criminal complaint, there is video footage from a camera system from a garage that "corroborates" the alleged victim's statement.
The Packers are waiting for the legal process to play out, and have not seen the alleged video.
"We have not seen the video," Gutekunst said , via ESPN. "Again, those are legal things going on right now, so we'll let those play out.
"That's really not for us, but in the appropriate times, if those things become available, we'll figure that stuff out when that time comes."
With the initial court date moving up by nearly two months, that time should come sooner than was previously expected.
Ideally, Green Bay would like the matter resolved as quickly as possible, and with an outcome that allows its starting running back to return to the field as quickly as possible in the upcoming season.
With the status of Jacobs yet unresolved, the Packers have running backs MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson on the roster.
