Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold were placed on the NFL's Commissioner's Exempt List on Sunday, with the league season on the horizon.
The Commissioner's Exempt List is a special designation for players facing unusual circumstances, as defined by the league rulebook. Players on this list are temporarily exempt from counting against a team's active roster limit. Only the Commissioner can place a player on this list, and the duration of the exemption is determined by the league.
Jacobs was charged with one count of battery and one count of criminal damage to property following a domestic incident. He faces potential fines and jail time if convicted of the misdemeanor charges.
Cooper was arrested in June for allegedly violating a protection order related to a previous domestic violence arrest.
Arnold was arrested in June on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery. While he was released by the Detroit Lions after his arrest, he has since joined the Seahawks but will be unable to participate in games while on the exempt list.
These players join other NFL figures who have encountered legal troubles during the offseason. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice served 30 days in jail for violating probation stemming from a 2025 plea agreement. Los Angeles Rams player Puka Nacua is also facing accusations of biting a woman in March, leading him to enter a rehabilitation program.
Additionally, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is facing domestic violence charges from an incident in June. The NFL is expected to announce disciplinary actions for Nacua, Bateman, and Rice that could impact their participation in the upcoming 2026 season.