Packers RB depth chart: Green Bay trades for Kaleb Johnson as Josh Jacobs goes on Commissioner's Exempt List

The Green Bay Packers will be without star running back Josh Jacobs to begin the season amid Jacobs' off-field issues.

The league is placing Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which will bar him from playing in games during the season for as long as he remains on the list. The league's decision stems from Jacobs' domestic abuse incident in May, which resulted in several charges being filed against him.

Jacobs will likely remain on the list as long as his case is ongoing, as the league has full power over deciding when to take him off. For now, it means that the Packers will have to fill his role on the team to begin the season, which is why they traded for running back Kaleb Johnson, who comes to Green Bay after underperforming as a rookie in Pittsburgh a year ago.

Here's the latest on Jacobs' status as well as what the Packers' chaotic running back depth chart looks like headed into the season.

Johnson will become the fourth player on the Packers' running back depth chart but should see some playing time based on Jacobs' status. Jacobs is cemented as the starting running back when he's eligible to play, but is dealing with legal troubles that could keep him out.

The Packers have Marshawn Lloyd as the second-string running back, as the former third-round pick is finally healthy after battling injuries. Lloyd played in just one game in his 2024 rookie season, then missed all of 2025 with injuries as well.

Therefore, Johnson will give the Packers more sturdy depth as Jacobs' status going forward remains uncertain. The team also has Chris Brooks, who played in all 17 games last year but is more of a special teams ace than offensive weapon.

Why did Packers trade for Kaleb Johnson?

The Packers needed to beef up their running back depth in the wake of Josh Jacobs' off-the-field concerns. Jacobs is starting the season on the exempt list due to his domestic abuse incident over the summer, and Green Bay didn't have sufficient depth at the position.

Trade! The Steelers and Packers are working to finalize a trade sending RB Kaleb Johnson to Green Bay, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports . pic.twitter.com/hmKe7OJGDt — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2026

Trade! The Steelers and Packers are working to finalize a trade sending RB Kaleb Johnson to Green Bay, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports . pic.twitter.com/hmKe7OJGDt

Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2026

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Behind Jacobs on the depth chart is a special teams player and a running back who has played in one game over the past two years. If Jacobs is forced to miss time, the Packers don't have much reliability in replacing him.

What is Josh Jacobs status for the season?

The NFL is placing Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List to begin the 2026 season, which will keep him sidelined. Jacobs will be paid but is not able to practice with the team or play in games while he is on the list.

It's unlikely that the Packers will flatly release Jacobs while he is on the exempt list. Instead, the team is more likely to wait out the legal process until the NFL takes Jacobs off the list and, therefore, makes the running back eligible to play in games again.

Jacobs was charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property in the state of Wisconsin stemming from a domestic abuse incident in May. Jacobs was arrested on May 26 and booked on counts of battery (domestic abuse, criminal damage to property), domestic abuse, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation), and intimidation of a victim.

Jacobs allegedly "threw his girlfriend to the ground during an argument over cellphones, causing her to strike her head." The victim claimed that she approached Jacobs after finding out he was talking to other women, but the dispute and confrontation escalated from there.

Jacobs was accused of physically trying to prevent the victim from leaving while threatening her in the process.