GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was released from a Wisconsin jail on Wednesday while authorities further investigate allegations of domestic abuse.
Jacobs was arrested Tuesday in Brown County on allegations of strangulation and suffocation and other offenses over the weekend. His lawyers said he denies wrongdoing.
District Attorney David Lasee said it’s too soon to make a formal charging decision.
“Our office has requested additional investigation, as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate, and what charges would be issued. … The investigation remains open and is ongoing,” Lasee said.
Jacobs’ lawyers — David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac — said they’re pleased that he’s out of jail.
“We encourage everyone to keep an open mind while the matter is fully reviewed. We remain confident that, once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future,” they said.
Hobart/Lawrence Police Chief Michael Renkas said police responded to a complaint about Jacobs around 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Jacobs is the Packers’ top returning rusher after running for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2025. That followed a 2024 season in which he ran for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns while earning his third Pro Bowl selection.
The Packers, who started organized team activities this week, had issued a statement Tuesday saying that they were aware of the matter and that “as it is an ongoing legal situation, we will withhold further comment.”
“I know there’s going to be a lot of questions about Josh,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said before the Packers’ practice on Wednesday. “I’m going to stick with the statement that we put out as an organization and just let the process play out.”
LaFleur declined comment on his reaction to the arrest, how he addressed the matter with the team and whether the Packers had communicated at all with Jacobs over the past few days. He also was asked about whether he has to prepare for the possibility the Packers might have to play part of the season without Jacobs.
“I think a lot’s going to happen between now and then,” LaFleur said.
The Packers canceled a scheduled post-practice availability for reporters with players Wednesday.
Jacobs, 28, has rushed for 7,803 yards and 74 touchdowns in his seven-year career, which included five seasons with the Raiders. He earned All-Pro honors and had an NFL-leading 1,653 yards rushing with Las Vegas in 2022.
The only active players with more career touchdown runs are Baltimore’s Derrick Henry (122) and Buffalo’s Josh Allen (79).
Green Bay lacks proven running backs aside from Jacobs.
The Packers’ second-leading rusher last season was Emanuel Wilson, who has since signed with the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers didn’t draft any running backs this year.
Green Bay’s second-leading returning rusher is quarterback Jordan Love, who ran for 199 yards last season. The Packers did re-sign running back Chris Brooks, who rushed for 106 yards on 27 carries last season and ran for 183 yards and a touchdown on 36 attempts in 2024.
MarShawn Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick from Southern California, didn’t play at all last year and appeared in only one game as a rookie because of injuries.
“I think he’s done everything he can in his power to put him in the best possible position,” LaFleur said of Lloyd. “He’s just going to have to go out there and prove it.”
Other running backs on Green Bay’s roster include Damien Martinez, Pierre Strong and rookie undrafted free agent Jaden Nixon.
___
White reported from Detroit.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
