Josh Jacobs hasn’t just been the starting running back for the Green Bay Packers; he’s been a cornerstone. He has rushed for 2,258 yards and scored 28 touchdowns during his two seasons with the Packers, appearing in 32 regular-season games. He’s been a player who’s allowed the Cheeseheads to dictate tempo, slow games down, and lean into a run-centric identity.
Now that identity is gone for the foreseeable future.
The NFL’s disciplinary framework under the CBA has made one thing clear: once the league decides to act, it acts on its own terms. In the case of Josh Jacobs, the NFL has known about the allegations since May, yet waited until Aug. 30 to place him on the Commissioner Exempt List.
That designation says it all: it’s still an active investigation, and the league is bracing for whatever comes next. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst stated that the Packers have not seen the video regarding Jacobs’ misdemeanor charges, but the fallout in Green Bay is immediate.
According to the NFL, “a player who is placed on the Commissioner Exempt List may not practice or attend games, but upon request and with the club’s permission he may be present at the club’s facility on a reasonable basis for meetings, individual workouts, therapy and rehabilitation, and other permitted non-football activities.”
“Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which is an administrative procedure used by the NFL while a matter is being reviewed,” Jacobs’ lawyers, David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III, said in a statement on Sunday, obtained by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
“It is not a final determination. Josh respects the NFL process, the Packers, and his coaches and teammates. He looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL.”
Green Bay acted quickly, trading for second-year running back Kaleb Johnson. He will be a part of the Packers’ young running back room with Marshawn Lloyd during Jacobs’ absence. Chris Brooks, entering his third year, will play a complementary role and is valued for his pass protection.
The issue is that Lloyd hasn’t stayed healthy since the Packers drafted him in 2023. Between him and Johnson, Green Bay has a combined 34 carries, 84 yards, and a 2.5-yard-per-carry average.
Josh Jacobs’ Case Raises Questions For Packers 2026 Plans
According to Hayden Wink, a fantasy football analyst for Yahoo Sports, “since signing with the Packers in free agency in 2024, the team has ranked 31st in neutral pass rate and 31st in neutral run rate.” This suggests they have had one of the league’s lowest passing frequencies, and Jacobs was the engine of the offense.
That could easily change in 2026. Jordan Love praised his wide receiver room this summer, which includes Christian Watson, who signed a four-year, $110 million extension, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden, who continues to ascend.
Love said he and Golden were in “sync” during the Packers’ final public practice, emphasizing that Golden consistently created separation and made Love’s job easier. That type of praise should pump up Packers fans. The former Longhorn enters his second season with a real chance of becoming a true number one receiver, something the team hasn’t had since Davante Adams departed. His chemistry with Love is promising and encouraging.
The Packers’ quarterback also has one of the best tight ends in football, Tucker Kraft. ESPN’s poll of coaches, scouts, and executives ranked him sixth among his position, and as high as third. An NFC executive praised his speed, run-after-catch ability, and blocking.
Watson remains the primary vertical weapon for this offense, and he’s coming off the best season of his career. Reed is the explosive slot receiver, where he’s excelled at picking up yards after the catch. There’s a real possibility that Love is asked to elevate this offense entering his fourth season. He has finished ninth, fifth, and third in total quarterback rating during his three seasons as a starter.
If there’s ever a year for Love to take an MVP leap, 2026 could be it. He’s entering the prime of his career at 27 years old. The running back room is thin, and the Packers, whether they planned to or not, are about to become a team that throws the ball more often — and maybe they should.
The uncertainty around Jacobs forces the Packers into a new era. The question now is whether Love is ready to take over the offense.
