Josh Jacobs Sues to Block Video as Exempt-List Limbo Drags On
The Packers RB filed suit against a Wisconsin police department to keep the incident video sealed — and the NFL still has no timeline for a ruling.
No timeline, no practice, no path to the field in standard leagues.
- No-contest plea to two misdemeanors on Sept. 10
- On commissioner's exempt list, can't practice or play
- Packers avg just 60.4 rush yds/G without him — last in NFL
- NFL on Oct. 11: matter under review, no timeline
- Was our No. 1 RB entering 2026
Josh Jacobs has gone to court to keep the one piece of evidence that matters most buried. The Packers running back filed a lawsuit against the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin this week, aiming to permanently block the release of records from his criminal case — including an alleged video of the May 23 altercation. He pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors on Sept. 10, but the NFL still hasn't ruled on his status, and he remains parked on the commissioner's exempt list with no return date in sight.
That's the fantasy gut-punch: Jacobs can still collect his paychecks while on the exempt list, but he can't practice and he can't play. Green Bay has already gone five games without him, and the ground game has cratered — just 60.4 rushing yards per game, dead last in the league by nearly 20 yards. For a back who finished as our No. 1 RB entering 2026, that's a stunning fall from relevance.
Why The Video Matters
Jacobs' legal team listed several reasons the footage should stay sealed, chief among them protecting the woman involved — referred to only as ANM in court documents — from unwanted public exposure. The filing also argued that releasing details about his residence and schedule could make him a target for robbery. A judge lifted a temporary seal back on Sept. 23, directing police to weigh the competing interests before releasing anything. Jacobs' suit slammed that door shut again, at least for now.
The NFL wants that video. The league has filed a public records request and hasn't gotten it, which is almost certainly why a decision has stalled. If you need a historical rhyme, think back to 2014: Ray Rice got a two-game suspension that became indefinite once the incident video went public. The league learned its lesson, and it's not ruling on Jacobs until it sees the footage. On Oct. 11, the NFL confirmed the case is still under personal-conduct review with no timeline.
The Fantasy Fallout
Here's the plain math. Jacobs posted 237 PPR points over 15 games in the 2025 season — 929 rushing yards, 13 rushing scores, plus 282 receiving yards on 36 catches. That production is now zero, and there's no realistic path back until a legal and league process with no deadline resolves itself. A lawsuit designed to bury evidence is not the move of a player expecting to suit up soon.
The verdict: drop him in all standard formats. Holding a roster spot for a back who can't even practice, with no timeline whatsoever, is a luxury you can't afford during a live season. Deep-league dynasty managers with IR or taxi flexibility can stash and wait, but everyone else should move on and chase the touches that are actually available. This one isn't thawing anytime soon.
