Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs spoke to reporters on Wednesday, Oct. 21, marking the first time he had done so since his May 26 arrest on a domestic violence allegation.
Jacobs expressed gratitude to the Packers for standing by his side while he missed the first six games of the 2026 NFL season after being placed on the NFL commissioner's exempt list.
"First, I’m excited to be back with the team, with the guys," Jacobs told reporters, via video from Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I want to say thank you to the organization, really for supporting me throughout this whole process and how everything played out."
Jacobs also spoke briefly about his legal situation and acknowledged he was "remorseful"
about it.
"I can’t get into a lot of things, like specifics of things," Jacobs said, referencing his arrest. "But obviously, I’m remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation. Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur, and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly."
"I'm still a human being," he added. "Still trying to learn. Still trying to grow from the whole process. Actually learned a lot throughout this process, legally and just personally. But yeah, going forward, just trying to get better."
Why was Josh Jacobs arrested?
Jacobs was arrested on May 26 by the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department outside of Green Bay. At the time, the 28-year-old was facing five charges stemming from an incident involving a female acquaintance that occurred on May 23. The charges were:
- Battery – Domestic Abuse
- Criminal Damage to Property – Domestic Abuse
- Disorderly Conduct – Domestic Abuse
- Strangulation and Suffocation
- Intimidation of a Victim
Jacobs eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property in a court appearance on Sept. 10. He was ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 plus costs for the battery charge while he received a deferred judgement agreement on the criminal damage to property charge, meaning he will have to meet a list of conditions in order to have that charge dismissed by the state.
Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list amid those legal proceedings and missed the first six games of the season because of it.
Now back, Jacobs is focused on returning to the field and is trying not to worry too much about what people think of him.
"I know for some people this might be a stain on me and my character, but I feel like I don't really have to speak on my character," Jacobs said. "A lot of people that know me in this locker room or that's been around me, I'll let them do that. For me, I'm just trying to come back in here and play ball, learn from this mistake and move forward."
Jacobs will first be eligible to play for the Packers in Week 7 when the face the Detroit Lions. Green Bay hasn't yet committed to the veteran playing, but he is hoping he will be able to return to the field for the critical NFC North battle.
"My goal is to play," Jacobs said, per the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "I don’t know how much they’re going to allow me to play, honestly. Especially with having a walkthrough today, I didn’t really get too many reps, like real reps. So I don’t know where their mindset is, but if it’s up to me I’m going to try to play."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Jacobs breaks silence on arrest, Packers return: 'Still trying to learn'
