By admin 
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur may have missed the mark with his comments about Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs.
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Jacobs was arrested this past May on charges of battery and criminal damage to property. It was reported that a woman who identified as his girlfriend accused him of striking her in the head while she was trying to leave his garage. A police officer “observed redness to [her] face and neck and was able to feel that she had a bump on the back of her head. She described that she was in pain as a result of the injuries.”
On Thursday, the star running back for the Packers appeared in Brown County (Wisconsin) Court to plead no contest to his misdemeanor charges.
“I fully understand the seriousness of the situation, and I take full responsibility,” Jacobs said.
LaFleur faced questions about Jacobs’ court appearance during his media availability Friday. When asked if his player pleading no contest changes his opinion, he offered a controversial response.
“Well, yeah, because I know the guy, and I know the character of the guy, so I’ve said it many times,” LaFleur replied. “And unfortunately, situations occur in life and it’s just an unfortunate situation.”
LaFleur added that he’s not going to say much more until the NFL completes its investigation. Those remarks didn’t sit well with NFL fans.
“That’s the public statement from the head coach? Pretty weak,” Zach Kruse of Packers Wire said.
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“What a cowardly stance from Matt LaFleur to take on the issue,” Jacob Infante of Pro Football Network replied.
“This is genuinely pathetic. From the entire organization. The fact he’s even still on the team is an embarrassment and his head coach is openly defending his character,” one fan commented.
“He tried for the most PR safe answer he could and absolutely failed,” another fan wrote.
Will Josh Jacobs miss the 2026 season?
The NFL has already placed Jacobs on the commissioner exempt, so he won’t be suiting up for Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.
“We have been closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy. There is no change to his status as he remains on the Commissioner’s Exempt list,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said Thursday.
Now that Jacobs pleaded no contest to these charges, there’s a good chance he’ll receive a suspension in the near future.
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 12:40 PM.