NFL places Packers running back Josh Jacobs on commissioner exempt list

The NFL has placed Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list following misdemeanor battery and criminal damage charges filed by the Brown County District Attorney's Office. Jacobs was arrested in late May on five allegations, including felony strangulation and suffocation, and now faces potential suspension after an NFL investigation. The status change increases the urgency of the recent trade between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers involving Kaleb Johnson. Johnson, a third-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, struggled during his rookie season in Pittsburgh where he faced a depth chart crowded by Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. With Jacobs sidelined, Johnson now has a path to compete for a starting role alongside Marshawn Lloyd. The league's decision leaves the Green Bay backfield in flux as the Packers navigate the legal proceedings surrounding Jacobs.

• 7:51 PMYahoo Sports — Steelers trade makes even more sense after NFL update on Josh Jacobs