Josh Jacobs is still under NFL review for his May arrest, and the calendar is working against him. Three months have passed with no formal charges and no suspension announced, but the investigation remains open, per ProfootballNetwork.com and NBC Sports.
The Packers' starting running back is practicing despite a groin injury. Coach Matt LaFleur said Jacobs will practice Tuesday, per NBC Sports. That doesn't clear his legal situation, and it doesn't answer whether the NFL will discipline him under the personal conduct policy.
The absence of charges matters. So does the absence of a decision. The NFL's review can run independently of the legal system, and a suspension could arrive at any point, including after Week 1. That makes Jacobs one of the least certain assets in Green Bay's backfield.
The team's depth chart backs that up. With Jacobs' status clouded, the Packers are relying on a rotation that features MarShawn Lloyd, whose own health history makes him a projection, not a plan. If the league waits to act, Jacobs might play early and miss later. If the injury lingers, the Packers lose him either way.
This is a data point, not a verdict: Jacobs has been arrested, investigated, and still has no defined NFL outcome. The groin injury adds another variable. What's clear is that Green Bay cannot count on him as a full-season workhorse. They need a contingency that doesn't currently exist on the roster.
The sharpest read: the longer the review drags, the more likely any suspension lands in-season, costing the Packers games that matter. Prepare for a running-back-by-committee that starts earlier than anyone expected. That's the reality the Packers are facing, and it's not priced into their Week 1 planning.