Additional Coverage:
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been charged with five criminal offenses, including strangulation and suffocation, following a police response to a disturbance call over the weekend.
According to Hobart/Lawrence Police Chief Michael Renkas, Jacobs was taken into custody on Tuesday and booked at Brown County Jail on charges of strangulation and suffocation, battery-domestic abuse, criminal damage to property-domestic abuse, disorderly conduct-domestic abuse, and intimidation of a victim.
Police were initially dispatched to the incident involving Jacobs on Saturday morning at 8:37 a.m. Chief Renkas emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide further details at this time.
Represented by attorneys David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld, and Clarence Duchac, Jacobs strongly denies the allegations. In a joint statement, his legal team urged for fairness and patience as the case develops, noting that key evidence has yet to be disclosed.
Jacobs is a crucial player for the Packers, having led the team in rushing last season with 929 yards and 13 touchdowns. This followed a standout 2022 campaign with 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning him his third Pro Bowl selection. He remains the only Packers player to rush for over 200 yards last season, after the team’s second-leading rusher, Emanuel Wilson, signed with the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason.
The Packers kicked off their organized team activities on Tuesday. Head coach Matt LaFleur is scheduled to speak with the media on Wednesday. A team spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the situation but declined further comment due to its legal nature.
The NFL has also confirmed it is monitoring the situation and has been in contact with the Packers.
Jacobs began his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he earned All-Pro honors and led the league with 1,653 rushing yards in 2022. Over his seven-year career, he has amassed 7,803 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns. Among active players, only Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills have more career rushing touchdowns.