Josh Jacobs Still Sidelined as Police Withhold Key Video from NFL
The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department is delaying release of the video tied to Jacobs' battery plea — and the NFL almost certainly won't reinstate him until it sees it.
Josh Jacobs is no closer to returning to the Green Bay Packers backfield, according to a report published October 15 by ProFootballTalk (NBC Sports). The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin is withholding video evidence tied to the incident that led to Jacobs' guilty plea to battery — blocking access both to the NFL and to the media, per Danielle Lerner of USA Today.
The holdup stems from a procedural standoff: a judge last month lifted a temporary seal on the evidence, but lawyers in the underlying case intend to seek a new court order blocking disclosure. Police chief Michael Renkas confirmed in an October 13 letter that the department is "temporarily withholding all responsive records" during the statutory waiting period — and stressed that this isn't an outright denial, just a delay.
The fantasy-relevant bottom line: Jacobs isn't playing anytime soon. ProFootballTalk notes that some in league circles believe Jacobs could return from paid leave with missed games credited toward any eventual suspension — but the piece is explicit that the NFL is unlikely to reinstate him before seeing the video. The league's handling of the Ray Rice elevator video in 2014 burned it badly enough that it won't close a Personal Conduct Policy case blind again.
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs has been on paid leave through the first weeks of the 2026 season and, based on this report, has no clear return timeline. The video delay introduces a genuine unknown: the NFL cannot move forward on discipline — or reinstatement — until it reviews that footage, and the police department just pushed that timeline further out. If you're holding Jacobs in redraft, you're essentially holding a player with no return date in sight. In dynasty, his long-term value depends heavily on what the video shows and what suspension follows — neither of which is knowable right now. Drop him in redraft leagues and fill that roster spot. In dynasty, hold and wait for clarity before making any panicked trades.
Data: real stats via Sleeper, projections via FantasyPros.