Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has been placed on the NFL Commissioner Exempt List, creating uncertainty around his availability for the start of the 2026 NFL season and immediately changing the Packers’ running back depth chart.
The NFL announced the move Sunday, August 30, as the league reviews Jacobs’ situation following misdemeanor charges stemming from an alleged May incident.
Being placed on the Commissioner Exempt List is not the same as an NFL suspension. Jacobs remains under contract and will continue to be paid, but he cannot practice or attend games while he remains on the list.
Green Bay has already responded to the uncertainty by acquiring running back Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick.
Here is what Josh Jacobs being placed on the Commissioner Exempt List means and how it affects the Packers running back depth chart heading into the regular season.
Why Is Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner Exempt List?
The NFL placed Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner Exempt List while the league reviews a legal matter involving the Packers running back.
Jacobs faces misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property stemming from an alleged May incident involving a woman.
The Commissioner Exempt List allows the NFL to temporarily remove a player from normal football participation while a matter is reviewed without immediately imposing a disciplinary suspension.
Placement on the list does not by itself constitute a finding that Jacobs violated the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
What Does the Commissioner Exempt List Mean for Josh Jacobs?
Josh Jacobs cannot practice or attend Packers games while he remains on the Commissioner Exempt List.
Jacobs also does not occupy a spot on Green Bay’s 53-man active roster while he is on exempt status.
However, he remains under contract with the Packers and continues to receive his salary.
With permission from the team, a player on the Commissioner Exempt List can generally participate in certain activities at the team facility, including meetings, individual workouts, medical treatment, rehabilitation and other permitted non-football activities.
Is Josh Jacobs Suspended?
No. Josh Jacobs has not been suspended by the NFL simply because he was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List.
The distinction is important.
A suspension is generally a disciplinary action following a determination that a player violated NFL rules or league policy. Suspended players also typically lose their salary for games covered by the suspension.
The Commissioner Exempt List is instead an administrative designation that allows the league to temporarily prevent a player from participating while a matter is reviewed.
That means Jacobs could ultimately be removed from the exempt list without receiving a suspension, or the NFL could take additional disciplinary action depending on the results of its review.
Is Josh Jacobs Getting Paid on the Commissioner Exempt List?
Yes. Josh Jacobs will continue to receive his salary while he is on the Commissioner Exempt List.
Players placed on the exempt list generally remain paid according to the terms of their contracts.
This is one of the biggest differences between the Commissioner Exempt List and an NFL suspension.
Can Josh Jacobs Play Week 1?
Josh Jacobs cannot play in Week 1 if he remains on the Commissioner Exempt List when the Packers begin the regular season.
There is no automatic minimum number of games a player must remain on the Commissioner Exempt List.
Unlike injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list, there is not necessarily a predetermined four-game absence attached to exempt status.
The NFL commissioner determines when the exemption can be lifted, meaning Jacobs’ availability could change depending on the league’s review.
Until the NFL removes Jacobs from the list, Green Bay must prepare to play without its starting running back.
Packers RB Depth Chart Without Josh Jacobs
MarShawn Lloyd is positioned to receive a significant opportunity in the Packers backfield if Josh Jacobs remains unavailable, with Chris Brooks and newly acquired Kaleb Johnson providing additional depth.
Green Bay entered its final roster decisions with limited proven depth behind Jacobs, keeping Lloyd and Brooks on the initial 53-man roster before acquiring Johnson from Pittsburgh.
The Packers’ running back depth chart without Jacobs now projects as follows:
| Running Back | Projected Role |
|---|---|
| MarShawn Lloyd | Potential lead back / early-down carries |
| Chris Brooks | Third-down, passing-down and rotational role |
| Kaleb Johnson | Early-down depth with potential for an expanded role |
| Josh Jacobs | Commissioner Exempt List |
Is MarShawn Lloyd the Packers’ Starting RB Without Josh Jacobs?
MarShawn Lloyd appears to have the clearest path to becoming Green Bay’s primary running back if Jacobs is unavailable.
The former USC running back brings explosiveness and receiving ability to the Packers offense, but durability has been one of the major questions surrounding him during his NFL career.
Green Bay therefore may be reluctant to immediately give Lloyd the type of heavy workload Jacobs normally handles.
A committee involving Lloyd, Brooks and Johnson could be the more realistic approach, particularly early in the season.
Why Did the Packers Trade for Kaleb Johnson?
The Packers’ trade for Kaleb Johnson gives Green Bay additional insurance after Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List.
Green Bay sent Pittsburgh a 2028 sixth-round pick for Johnson shortly after the Jacobs news created additional uncertainty in the backfield.
Johnson was selected by Pittsburgh with the No. 83 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Iowa.
He rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns during his final season with the Hawkeyes, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
His rookie NFL season was considerably quieter. Johnson appeared in 10 games for Pittsburgh and carried the ball 28 times for 69 yards.
At 6-foot-1 and 224 pounds, Johnson gives Green Bay another bigger-bodied option capable of handling early-down carries.
Could Kaleb Johnson Become the Packers’ Starting Running Back?
Johnson could eventually push for a substantial role, but it would be aggressive to immediately assume he will become Green Bay’s starting running back.
He is joining a new offensive system immediately before the regular season and will need time to learn the Packers’ terminology, blocking assignments and passing-game responsibilities.
Lloyd’s familiarity with Green Bay’s offense should give him an initial advantage.
However, Johnson’s combination of size, college production and draft pedigree makes him an intriguing option if Jacobs’ absence becomes extended.
What Does Josh Jacobs’ Absence Mean for the Packers Offense?
Losing Jacobs for any significant period would be a major change for Green Bay’s offense because no other running back on the roster has demonstrated the same combination of experience, durability and proven NFL production.
The Packers could compensate by dividing Jacobs’ workload between multiple players instead of asking one running back to replace him directly.
Lloyd could receive the majority of early touches, Brooks could remain involved on passing downs and Johnson could gradually take on a larger rushing role as he becomes comfortable with the offense.
Green Bay could also lean more heavily on its passing game if the coaching staff does not believe one running back is ready to handle a traditional three-down workload.
How Long Can Josh Jacobs Stay on the Commissioner Exempt List?
There is no predetermined length of time that Josh Jacobs must remain on the Commissioner Exempt List.
The NFL commissioner has the authority to determine how long a player remains exempt and when he can return to the active roster.
That makes Jacobs’ situation different from roster designations that have specific minimum absence requirements.
His status could therefore change quickly, or he could remain unavailable for an extended period depending on the NFL’s review and developments in the underlying legal matter.
Can the Packers Replace Josh Jacobs on the 53-Man Roster?
Yes. Because Jacobs does not count against the Packers’ active roster limit while on the Commissioner Exempt List, Green Bay can use that roster position on another player.
The Packers are not required to release Jacobs to create that space.
He remains under contract with Green Bay while temporarily exempt from the active roster.
What Happens Next for Josh Jacobs?
The next major development will be the NFL’s decision regarding Jacobs’ status.
The league can continue reviewing the matter while Jacobs remains exempt, remove him from the list and allow him to return, or potentially pursue discipline under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
Until the league changes his designation, Jacobs cannot practice or participate in Packers games.
For Green Bay, that means preparing Lloyd, Brooks and Johnson to handle the running back workload as the 2026 regular season approaches.
Packers Running Back Depth Chart: Bottom Line
Josh Jacobs’ placement on the Commissioner Exempt List temporarily removes Green Bay’s starting running back from the active roster and leaves MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson as the Packers’ primary available options.
Lloyd has the clearest immediate opportunity to lead the backfield, while Johnson’s arrival gives Green Bay another potential early-down runner and Brooks provides additional experience and passing-down versatility.
The biggest question is how long Jacobs remains on exempt status.
Because there is no automatic timetable for his return, the Packers must prepare for the possibility of beginning the 2026 season with a running back committee while waiting for the NFL to determine Jacobs’ status.