ESPN insider Adam Schefter delivered a cautionary note this week about the potential for the NFL to take action against Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs well before the courts finish their work on his pending domestic abuse case.
Speaking on ESPN Milwaukee, Schefter said he would not be surprised if league officials impose discipline on Jacobs ahead of the regular season.
The Packers have received little public information about the status of the legal proceedings or any formal response from the NFL. Jacobs was arrested May 26 on domestic abuse charges, released the same day, and the matter remains under police investigation.
Schefter expanded on his view during the radio appearance.
“I will not be surprised if there’s discipline handed out by the time the season starts.”
“I think the Packers would like for them to wait for the process to play out,” Schefter said. “I think the league is always trying to step in and be proactive rather than reactive. I don’t know what side will prevail. I do know that it is absolutely up for debate, and the league has looked into it. I don’t know where the league will come out. I will not be surprised if there is discipline by the time the season starts.”
He stressed that the outcome remains uncertain. Many observers have assumed the league would hold off until after the legal process concludes, yet Schefter reminded listeners that the NFL conducts its own independent reviews and could move sooner. Historically, the league has often allowed criminal investigations to run their course before issuing suspensions. The case of former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott stands as a clear example. Elliott continued playing while authorities investigated, and the NFL only handed down a six-game suspension after the police work ended. Schefter’s comments suggest the league may now prefer a faster approach in situations like Jacobs’. That shift, if it materializes, would place Green Bay in a difficult position as the team prepares for the 2026 campaign. Behind Jacobs, the Packers’ running back depth is thin. MarShawn Lloyd is the most likely candidate to absorb a larger role. Lloyd has recorded just six carries across two NFL seasons and has dealt with injury setbacks, though he is healthy and showing promise in recent practices. Chris Brooks provides additional support but entered the league as an undrafted free agent and has mainly contributed as a reserve. It remains unclear whether any other backs currently on the roster will stick once final cuts are made. Jacobs himself enters what many expect to be his final season in Green Bay under less-than-ideal circumstances. In 2024 he rushed for 1,329 yards while staying healthy for a full year. Last season he managed 929 yards despite missing two games. If the Packers part ways with Jacobs after 2026, they would free up $13.5 million in salary-cap space while absorbing only $3.125 million in dead money. Team executives are widely expected to move on regardless of any league punishment that might be issued this year. A suspension of any length would force the Packers to lean heavily on an unproven backfield at a time when consistency at the position is critical. Schefter’s remarks therefore carry weight for a franchise still sorting out its options as training camp winds down and the preseason schedule continues. For now, Jacobs remains with the team and continues practicing while the dual tracks of the legal system and the NFL’s personal-conduct process move forward. Schefter’s assessment leaves open the real possibility that those two timelines could diverge before the first regular-season snap.
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