Packers star's lawyers call new abuse claims stale and unsupported

Running back Josh Jacobs returned to Green Bay Packers game action in Week 7 after spending the first six weeks of the season on the commissioner exempt list. Since his return, he has rushed for 75 yards on 32 carries and one touchdown, while adding two receiving touchdowns on 11 catches for 68 yards. His return coincides with a new wave of scrutiny over his personal conduct.

The Green Bay area police department released 129 pages of records on Sunday. The documents detail three additional allegations of physical and verbal abuse dating back to April 2021. These claims were not part of the original May incident that led to Jacobs' arrest at his home.

Jacobs pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges in September. He was convicted of battery and fined $1,000. A deferred judgment agreement was reached on a charge of damage to property. The new records, however, focus on separate events that occurred before the May incident.

Attorneys David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III issued a detailed statement on Sunday to address the new information. They described the allegations as "unsupported and stale." The lawyers noted that the Brown County District Attorney's office had held these uncorroborated claims for months before the police released the file.

The legal team stated that the police file contains only summaries of three telephone interviews taken years after the fact. They argued that no additional investigation was conducted beyond an acknowledgment that Jacobs did nothing wrong. The attorneys said Jacobs was not given an opportunity to present evidence because Hobart-Lawrence took no action on the reports.

The statement addressed each of the three women who came forward. Regarding the first claim, the lawyers said the NFL reviewed the report and decided no action was warranted. Jacobs has kept evidence supporting his account and the league's decision, which the police report did not include.

For the second incident, the attorneys explained that Jacobs called Las Vegas police to his home in 2021 to report the woman for misconduct. A police report written that day undermined her claims. No further action was taken after she was removed from his residence.

The third allegation involved a visit to Las Vegas. The lawyers stated that Jacobs denies any physical altercation. They noted that another person was present during part of her stay. She left the following evening on her own in a car she ordered herself. The receipt for that ride is included in the police file and matches Jacobs' account of how the visit ended.

The NFL announced on Saturday that it will look into the additional allegations. Jacobs' six games on the exempt list will count toward any future suspension. The league's investigation into violations of the personal conduct policy remains ongoing. The attorneys said Jacobs is answering the claims in detail because of character assassination unfairly threatening his career.