On Tuesday, 26 May, Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. Following another standout season in Wisconsin, the Packers star was arrested on five charges, including a felony count of strangulation and suffocation.
Running Back Hands Himself In
Jacobs’s charges stem from a police report of a disturbance at 8:37am on May 23. Three days later, Jacobs handed himself in at the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department, where he was arrested and transferred to Brown County Jail. The 28-year-old faces the following five charges:
- Battery
- Criminal damage to property – domestic abuse
- Disorderly conduct – domestic abuse
- Intimidation of a victim
- Strangulation and suffocation
The first four of those charges fall into the misdemeanour category, but strangulation and suffocation is a felony offence.
Jacobs Denies Charges
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: Packers star RB Josh Jacobs has reportedly been dating viral model/influencer Ash Kaash since last year.
Today, Jacobs was arrested on 5 charges, including domestic abuse and strangulation/suffocation.
Extremely disturbing 😳 https://t.co/vQrHcxidFi pic.twitter.com/5V9GKrMDMJ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 26, 2026
After handing himself in to authorities, Jacobs denied all charges against him. Following his arrest, Jacobs’ attorneys David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld, and Clarence Duhac released the following statement: “Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public. We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course.”
Jacobs’ employers are aware of the arrest, with a short statement from the Packers reading, “We are aware of the matter involving Josh Jacobs. As it is an ongoing legal situation, we will withhold further comment.”
This isn’t the first time Jacobs has found himself in hot water with the authorities. Back in January 2021, he was involved in a single-car accident and brought into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. Released the same day, he paid a fine in relation to a misdemeanour charge of “failure to decrease speed or use due care under certain circumstances.”
One of the Best in the League
While it is too early to speculate on the outcome of Jacobs’ charges, Packers fans will hope the matter is resolved before the 2026 season gets underway in September. Regardless of his off the field actions, Jacobs remains one of the league’s elite running backs and a key cog in the Packers’ offence.
Taken by the Oakland Raiders with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 draft, Jacobs moved with the Raiders to Las Vegas in 2020 and enjoyed a hugely successful start to his NFL career. Breaking the 1,000-yard rushing barrier in his debut 2019 season, he again reached four figures in 2020 and 2022. That 2022 campaign saw Jacobs lead the league with a career-best 1,653 rushing yards and become the first Raider to achieve 2,000 yards from scrimmage since Marcus Allen in 1985. Earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2020 and 2022, Jacobs’ time in Las Vegas came to an end when he entered free agency at the end of the 2023 season.
Jacobs opted to head to Lambeau Field for his next destination when signing a four-year, $48 million deal with the Packers in 2024. He wasted little time in making his mark. Five years on from taking the NFL by storm in his debut season, he made a similarly electric start in Green Bay. In rushing for 1,329 yards and a career-high 15 touchdowns, Jacobs earned a third Pro Bowl selection. He then came close to reaching 1,000 yards for a fifth time in a 929-yard 2025 campaign shortened by missing two games through injury.
In seven seasons in the NFL, Jacobs has rushed for 7,803 yards and 74 touchdowns. That touchdown total is the third highest among all active players, with Jacobs lying behind only Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (122) and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (79).
Absence Would Leave Packers Thin at Running Back
If this incident ultimately impacts Jacobs’ time on the field, Green Bay may find themselves a little thin at running back. Number 2 running back Emmanuel Wilson, who registered 496 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2025, has departed for Seattle in the offseason.
Looking further down the depth chart, MarShawn Lloyd made one appearance in his debut 2024 season before missing the whole of 2025 through injury, while Chris Brooks has only 395 yards in three seasons in the NFL. Behind Lloyd and Brooks, Pierre Strong Jr and Damien Martinez are practice squad players fighting for a spot on the roster, and Jaden Nixon arrived as an undrafted free agent in 2026.