NFL News: Insider Updates Timeline for Josh Jacobs Return to Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs remains on the Commissioner's Exempt List as the National Football League attempts to obtain video footage of him allegedly striking his girlfriend this offseason. With that pursuit ongoing, it appears the Pro Bowl running back won't be seen on the field anytime soon.

During an appearance Sunday on NFL Network's NFL GameDay , insider Ian Rapoport said that a return to the team isn't "imminent" for Jacobs and it could be weeks before he even has a chance at being cleared to play.

"If they get to the point where it's five games, six games, maybe eight games, that might be when you're looking at a potential return for Josh Jacobs." Ian Rapoport on when Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs could return

"If they get to the point where it's five games, six games, maybe eight games, that might be when you're looking at a potential return for Josh Jacobs."

Ian Rapoport on when Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs could return

Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List before Week 1 while the league attempted to obtain video of the alleged battery incident. It has since filed a Freedom of Information Act request after the judge ruled against a request from both sides in the case for the video to be sealed.

Under NFL rules, every game Jacobs misses this season while on the exempt list counts toward any future suspension he receives. For example, Jacobs spending the first six weeks of the 2026 NFL season on the exempt list and then receiving an eight-game ban from the league would mean he could return in Week 9 against the New England Patriots .

Examining Green Bay Packers Rushing Stats Without Josh Jacobs

With Jacobs out, the Packers offense has relied on a three-man rotation at running back with MarShawn Lloyd , Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson through three games. It's resulted in the worst rushing offense in the NFL.

Entering Week 4, Green Bay ranked last in rushing yards per game (48.7) with the second-worst rushing offense ( Denver Broncos ) sitting at 81.0 rush ypg . For further comparison, 20 NFL teams are averaging more than twice as many rushing yards per game as the Packers offense averages.

MarShawn Lloyd, who looked promising in training camp, has stayed healthy for the first time in his NFL career but he's averaged just 3.0 yards per carry on 23 attempts with poor vision and a lack of explosion being very apparent.

Kaleb Johnson, the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers , has also struggled. He's second on the team in carries (12) and has begun earning more snaps than Lloyd, but he's also shown no real ability to create yards for himself.

The Packers offensive line is also plenty responsible for the team's inability to run the football, with right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele out for the season, left guard Aaron Banks missing two of three games and guards Jager Burton and Jacob Monk both struggling. So, even if Jacobs returns to the field, it seems unlikely that Green Bay's rushing attack will improve significantly this year.