Josh Jacobs made an emphatic return for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, scoring a spectacular touchdown in his 2026 season debut against the Detroit Lions.
The Packers activated Jacobs on Saturday after the running back was removed from the NFL’s exempt list earlier in the week. The 28-year-old had missed Green Bay’s first six games while the league investigated domestic abuse allegations.
Back on the field at Ford Field, Jacobs quickly made his presence felt. His remarkable individual effort gave Green Bay a 14-10 lead over Detroit.
Jacobs took a pass from quarterback Jordan Love near the 25-yard line before accelerating along the left sideline.
With two Lions defenders converging, Jacobs powered through both tackles, stayed upright and battled his way into the end zone.
Although Jacobs was held to 36 yards on 11 carries, he contributed five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ 20-17 defeat.
Josh Jacobs made a statement in his season debut by scoring a spectacular touchdown Sunday
The Packers running back powered through two Lions tackles on his way to the end zone
Jacobs returned at Ford Field after his arrest in a domestic abuse case
“I thought he did a lot of good things,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “He made a spectacular play on the touchdown, and he sparked some nice things.”
Green Bay entered the matchup in desperate need of help on the ground. The Packers ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry before facing Detroit.
They finished with 19 rushing attempts for 60 yards and came away empty-handed on all three of their red-zone opportunities.
Jacobs previously pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges stemming from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend. Formal charges were filed in August.
The three-time Pro Bowl running back was accused of grabbing the woman and throwing her onto the floor of his garage, causing her to strike her head. Police said surveillance footage from the garage supported the battery allegation and the claim that her phone was damaged.
Last month, Jacobs was ordered to attend counseling and pay restitution to the victim.
The NFL’s investigation remains ongoing. The six games Jacobs has already missed this season may be credited toward any suspension the league ultimately imposes.
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“I thought I’d be playing sooner,” Jacobs told reporters this week. “But, you know, the optics of everything, I understand the other side. For me, like I said, I’m just grateful to be able to play. It was one of them things where I didn’t want to sit the whole year and then figure it out. I’m just grateful to be back on the team and to be back playing.”
Jacobs also said he regretted the distraction the situation created for the Packers.
“Obviously, man, I’m remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation,” the running back said. “Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly.”
In a statement to Our News Outlet, Jacobs’ attorneys said: “Josh has dedicated the last several months to bettering himself, and he accepts responsibility for his actions. He is excited to get back to work and on the field with his teammates.”
‘Josh is grateful for the support he is receiving from his teammates, coaches, the Packers organization, and the greatest fans in the world. Since there are ongoing legal matters, he will not have any further comment.’
Jacobs already pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property following a May altercation with his then-girlfriend. He was charged in August
The Packers went 4-2 without Jacobs despite a ground game that ranked dead last in the NFL
Jacobs recently sued a Wisconsin police department in an effort to keep records and evidence from his battery case permanently sealed.
In September, district judge Marc A Hammer cancelled a temporary order sealing the evidence at the victim’s request. Since September 11, the decision of whether or not to release the evidence has been left in the hands of Hobart-Lawrence police, who have thus far refused to share it publicly.
Attorneys for the victim filed a motion in September in their own effort to seal the records.
In Jacobs’ lawsuit, his attorney Clarence Duchac cited the victim’s motion to argue that the evidence should remain sealed.
‘[Jacobs] joins and supports [the victim’s] position that the identifying, private and sensitive records associated with the underlying incident should not be publicly released,’ read an excerpt published by The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, the NFL is also trying to obtain the evidence as part of its investigation into the incident, a league spokesman told Our News Outlet last month.
Jacobs’ attorney also cited a recent string of robberies at the home of famous athletes in arguing that evidence from the case should remain sealed.
‘The public availability of [Jacobs’] schedule or travel information increases the risk that persons could identify periods when [Jacobs] is away from home and use released information concerning the residence, garage, access points, security arrangements, or property to target the property,’ read one portion of the lawsuit.
‘Widespread public dissemination of those details would materially increase [Jacobs’] vulnerability to theft, burglary, robbery, trespass, or other targeted criminal conduct.’
