Packers GM Brian Gutekunst ‘certainly would expect’ Josh Jacobs to play this season

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst expects running back Josh Jacobs to play this season despite being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list.

“I’m certainly hopeful that he will, and certainly would expect that,” Gutekunst said Tuesday. “But we’re going to let this process play out, and we’ll be prepared either way.”

Last Thursday, Jacobs was charged with one count of battery and one count of criminal damage to property. According to the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, police have surveillance footage of the incident, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. However, Gutekunst said no one has seen the video.

“We have not seen the video,” he said. “Again, those are legal things going on right now, so we’ll let those play out. That’s really not for us, but in the appropriate times, if those things become available, we’ll figure that stuff out when that time comes.”

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy declined to say whether the league has seen the video.

“The matter remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” McCarthy said via Demovsky. “We do not discuss details of an ongoing investigation.”

When asked if there was a scenario in which they release Jacobs, Gutekunst said they are going to let the process play out before making that type of decision.

As long as he’s on the commissioner’s exempt list, Jacobs is not allowed to practice or play but can be present at the facility for meetings, individual workouts, therapy/rehabilitation, and other permitted non-football activities.

Jacobs has been Green Bay’s lead back since arriving in 2024, rushing for 2,258 yards and 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Without Jacobs, Green Bay will rely on MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, and Kaleb Johnson, whom they acquired on Sunday in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers GM Brian Gutekunst ‘certainly would expect’ Josh Jacobs to play this season