Josh Jacobs Faces Two Misdemeanor Charges Ahead of New NFL Season

Packers running back Josh Jacobs is facing charges of misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.

Josh Jacobs Faces Two Misdemeanor Charges Ahead of New NFL Season

Josh Jacobs (Image via IMAGO)

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Jacobs is facing charges of misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.

The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero on Thursday reported that “the Brown County District Attorney has formally charged Packers RB Josh Jacobs with two misdemeanors related to his May arrest.” Jacobs, 28, was originally booked on five charges, including one felony.

Josh Jacobs’ attorneys, David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Clarence F. Duchac III, told Pelissero:

The Brown County District Attorney has reviewed evidence and elected to file misdemeanor charges against Josh that do not include domestic violence. 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.

These charges were brought against Jacobs after his former girlfriend registered a complaint with the police. Per the official complaint, a dispute led to Jacobs physically harming her. The dispute happened after they went through each other’s phones. Surveillance video revealed that Jacobs threw her to the ground, which caused a head injury and damage to her phone.

On May 26, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman reported Josh Jacobs was arrested and booked on five charges. According to Schneidman, the charges included battery/domestic abuse, criminal damage to property/domestic abuse, disorderly conduct/domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim. Only the strangulation charge is considered a felony.

Jacobs denied all the allegations. It took the police three months to process the case. They finally charged Jacobs with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage. If Jacobs is convicted, he could face up to 18 months in jail and $20K in fines.

The Packers released a statement on Thursday via ESPN’s Rob Demovosky.

We are aware of the charges brought against Josh Jacobs. We will continue to cooperate with the NFL as we work through the process. We will have no further comment at this time.

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Who could the Packers replace Josh Jacobs with if he’s sentenced to jail?

Jacobs spent one night in jail back in May. Since then, he has attended every Packers training session, barring minor injuries. Then again, he’s currently at a very sensitive point in his career. His credentials would take a massive hit if he goes to jail for 18 months. That’s nearly two years stripped from his career.

Josh Jacobs Faces Two Misdemeanor Charges Ahead of New NFL Season
Josh Jacobs (Image via IMAGO)

In the meantime, the Packers need to find a suitable replacement. Fourth-year Chris Brooks and third-year Marshawn Lloyd have shared snaps in the offseason and could work as double-headers behind Jordan Love.

But neither has enough game-day experience to take the RB1 job. If so, they must bring in a veteran with proper first-team experience. Joe Mixon, Kareem Hunt, and Raheem Mostert are still without a club. Nick Chubb recently announced his retirement. But he’s only 30 years old and perhaps still has something left in the tank for one last run.

The Packers signed Josh Jacobs to a four-year, $48 million contract in 2024. Over the next two years, he rushed for 1329 and 929 yards and scored a combined 30 touchdowns.

Jacobs, a 24th overall pick, played five seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2022, he led the league with 1653 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on 340 carries.

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