Back in May, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was arrested after a May 23 altercation with his then-girlfriend, who said he threw her to the ground. After that, the NFL benched the running back on August 30 by placing him on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which kept him out of the Packers’ first six games
Jacobs pleaded no contest to the misdemeanors in September, and when he finally returned to practice in Green Bay on October 21, he had to eat humble pie and apologize for letting the team down.
Jan 5, 2019; San Jose, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Josh Jacobs during College Football Playoff Championship Media Day at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Ex-NFL DT Shot Down Matt LaFleur and Packers Over Josh Jacobs’ Comeback
After being removed from the exempt list, Jacobs was right back in the game on Sunday, playing against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. The Packers desperately needed a run game because they ranked last in the NFL for rushing yards and yards per carry.
Still, Green Bay lost 20-17, and coach Matt LaFleur faced criticism for playing the three-time Pro Bowler from former defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko. The ex-Steelers FT took a shot at the Packers for playing Jacobs.
“You openly employ a coward who assaults women,” following Green Bay’s loss, Fehoko posted. “Karma a mf. @packers you openly employ a coward who assaults women and thought the football gods was gonna grant you a win? Pi** poor a** organization do better.”
Karma a mf. @packers you openly employ a coward who assaults women and thought the football gods was gonna grant you a win? Piss poor ass organization do better.
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) October 25, 2026
In his Sunday debut in Detroit, Jacobs touches: 11 runs for 36 yards and 5 catches for 55 yards, plus a 25-yard TD pass from quarterback Jordan Love. Jacobs racked up 91 total yards and finished as RB7 on 35 snaps. Coach Matt LaFleur termed Jacobs’ touchdown catch ‘a spectacular play’ but said the team is ‘still not running the ball consistently enough.
“I thought he did a lot of good things. He made a spectacular play on the touchdown, and he sparked some nice things”.
Reflecting on his legal case, Jacobs offered a sincere apology, “Obviously, man, I’m remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation,” Jacobs said. “Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly. I thought I’d be playing sooner. But, you know, the optics of everything, I understand the other side. For me, like I said, I’m just grateful to be able to play. It was one of them things where I didn’t want to sit the whole year and then figure it out. I’m just grateful to be back on the team and to be back playing.”
The NFL is still waiting and seeing on that incident, so more punishment could be coming. Meanwhile, Jacobs should get more snaps. The Packers play the Carolina Panthers this Thursday, go to New England in Week 9, and host the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10. Facing the Panthers is his best shot at a big game since they’re fifth-worst against running backs.
After the loss, Jacobs said it was a strange week, and his timing was off. He felt a bit rusty, and he needs to get back into the swing of things and knock off the rust, as everyone expected.
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