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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was arrested on Tuesday (May 26) and faces five criminal charges, including strangulation and suffocation, after police responded to a disturbance complaint over the weekend. The incident occurred in Hobart/Lawrence, Wisconsin, and Jacobs was subsequently booked into Brown County Jail.
According to CNN, the charges against Jacobs include one felony count of strangulation and suffocation, along with four misdemeanor charges: battery-domestic abuse, criminal damage to property-domestic abuse, disorderly conduct-domestic abuse, and intimidation of a victim. Police Chief Michael Renkas stated that the investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.
Jacobs' legal team, consisting of David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld, and Clarence Duchac, released a statement asserting Jacobs' innocence. "Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public," they said. "We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course."
Jacobs, originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the Packers' leading returning rusher, having accumulated 929 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He previously played for the Las Vegas Raiders, where he earned All-Pro honors and led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022.
The Packers have acknowledged the situation but have refrained from further comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed that the league is aware of the report and is in contact with the team.
As the case develops, Jacobs' status with the Packers and any potential disciplinary action from the NFL remain uncertain. Packers coach Matt LaFleur is expected to address the media on Wednesday.