Wednesday marked the first day that Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was able to practice with the Packers since training camp, following his placement on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list for a domestic violence incident that led to Jacobs pleading no contest to charges of battery and criminal damage to property. Jacobs still isn’t technically a member of the Packers’ 53-man active roster, as Green Bay has the option to use a one-week exemption on the running back while he’s coming off
the commissioner exempt list, but Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has already stated that Jacobs practiced with the team on Wednesday, a sign that Jacobs will be up on the active roster soon.
Both LaFleur, who had previously stated that he wouldn’t talk about Jacobs’ situation until the league’s investigation (which is still ongoing) was finished, and Jacobs, who hasn’t had the opportunity to talk to the press this year, were asked questions by the media relevant to the running back’s time on the exempt list.
Here’s what they had to say on Wednesday.
Matt LaFleur
I think a lot of times you get into a situation where you might not make the right decision. I think people learn from their mistakes, and I think he’s extremely remorseful. I do believe that he’s a good person. I’ve been around him quite a bit. I believe in second chances.
Josh Jacobs
I’m excited to be back with the team, with the guys. I want to say thank you to the organization, really for supporting me throughout this whole process and how everything played out. With that being said, I can’t get into a lot of things. Like specifics of things, but obviously, man, I’m remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation. Sometimes, when you go through life, situations occur. A four-second, three-second decision can alter your life. But with that being said, I’m still a human being, man.
I’m still trying to learn. I’m still trying to grow from the whole process. I actually learned a lot throughout this process, legally and just personally. Going forward, man, it’s just trying to be better. For some people, I know this might be a stain on me and my character. I feel like I don’t really have to speak on my character. A lot of people that know me, in this locker room or has been around me, I’ll let them do that. For me, man, I’m just trying to come back in here and play ball, learn from this mistake and move forward.
I think six games is a lot, honestly, but that’s not really up to me to decide. I’m grateful to be playing, so that’s not something I’m really arguing or petitioning with. I’m just happy to be back on the team.
Me, personally, I’m not trying to win nobody back. And that’s me being all the way honest, because at the end of the day, I know what happened. If you feel some type of way, I feel bad, because it’s still a situation occured and it should have never even happened. That’s something that I would still understand if people feel some type of way about it. But like I said, all I can do is keep showing up and being who I am. Being a leader for this team. Being a leader in this community. That’s really all I can control.
