National Sports

Packers’ Jacobs expresses contrition

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs expressed contrition as he returned to practice Wednesday and talked to reporters for the first time since pleading no contest to two misdemeanor charges stemming from a May altercation with his then-girlfriend during which she said he threw her to the ground.

“Obviously, man, I’m remorseful and sorry for putting this team in this situation,” Jacobs said. “Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly.”

Jacobs was removed this week from the commissioner’s exempt list, which had prevented him from playing or practicing. The NFL had placed Jacobs on that list Aug. 30, shortly after charges were filed against him. He pleaded no contest last month to misdemeanor counts of battery and criminal damage to property.

The NFL is still investigating Jacobs over the incident, so the league still could hand out more discipline to the three-time Pro Bowl running back. But for now, Jacobs is eligible to play again for the Packers after missing the first six games of the season.

“I thought I’d be playing sooner,” Jacobs said. “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.”

No details

Jacobs was arrested May 26, three days after police officers came to his Wisconsin home to investigate a disturbance. According to police, the woman told them that Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground as she was trying to exit a garage door, causing her to hit her head. Police said Jacobs also took her phone from her while she was on the ground.

Police said they noticed redness on her face and neck and could feel a bump on the back of her head.

The criminal complaint against him noted that a surveillance video from the camera system in their garage corroborated the woman’s statement. Both Jacobs and the victim have gone to court attempting to have that video and other evidence sealed permanently.

Jacobs declined to discuss the specifics of his case but said he hopes to use the situation as an opportunity to grow into a better person.

Confident of return

Jacobs was asked Wednesday if he’d feared the possibility he might never play again after his arrest.

“I wasn’t overly concerned about that because in my heart, I know what happened and what didn’t happen,” Jacobs said. “And I’ll just trust the legal process. So for me, I wasn’t ever overly concerned of not playing again. It was just a matter of when.”

Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love said Jacobs had spoken to the team about the situation back when the incident occurred and added that the Packers are “happy to have Josh back, for sure.” Green Bay’s offense ranks last in the NFL in yards rushing per game (59.8) and yards per carry (2.9).

Coach Matt LaFleur hasn’t indicated what kind of workload Jacobs might get Sunday at Detroit, or even whether he would play at all. Jacobs was unable to practice or play while on the commissioner’s exempt list, but he was able to attend meetings and lift weights and condition with the Packers’ strength coaches.