Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Monday that he expects running back Josh Jacobs to remain with the team despite new, disturbing allegations of abuse that have surfaced against him. Jacobs has been on the commissioner's exempt list for six games following his May arrest on three domestic abuse charges, including strangulation and suffocation, and intimidation of a victim after an altercation with his then-girlfriend.
LaFleur opened his press conference ahead of the Packers' Week 9 game against the Patriots by acknowledging the situation. "We're aware of the prior allegations on Josh and we're going to allow the NFL to do its process," LaFleur stated. "But I do anticipate him being a member of us moving forward and that's really all I have to speak on."
When pressed by reporters about whether anything had changed in his stance given the new allegations, LaFleur declined to elaborate further, reiterating, "Like I said, I'm not gonna get into that up here right now. We'll just let the process play out." He added, "I would anticipate Jacobs being a part of the team as we go through everything."
Recent reports indicate that at least three other women have contacted the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin with similar allegations against the 28-year-old Pro Bowler. These alleged incidents reportedly occurred in May 2022, January 2022, and April 2021, according to police records. The NFL has stated it is reviewing these previously unreported allegations.
Jacobs' legal team issued a statement Sunday calling the release of the new allegations "character assassination" that is "unfairly" impacting their client. The player previously pleaded no contest to misdemeanor counts of battery and criminal damage to property on September 10, related to the May incident.
He was placed on the commissioner's exempt list in August. Jacobs returned to play in Week 7 and has since participated in two games, scoring twice in the Packers' victory over the Panthers on Thursday night. The Packers currently hold a 5-3 record.