Josh Jacobs Case: Judge Denies Request to Seal Evidence, NFL Investigation Continues

As the Green Bay Packers prepared for their Week 3 Thursday Night Football showdown against the Atlanta Falcons, the spotlight remained firmly on a player who wasn’t on the field. Running back Josh Jacobs, sidelined indefinitely on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list, faced another legal development on Thursday, September 24, 2026. According to reports from ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Brown County District Court Judge Marc A. Hammer denied the victim’s request to permanently seal evidence—including surveillance video that the criminal complaint says captured a portion of the May 23 incident at Jacobs’ home in Green Bay. The decision, handed down in a Wisconsin courtroom, ensures that the video and other records remain accessible, at least for now, to the NFL as it conducts its own investigation.

Judge Turns Evidence Over to Police, NFL Not Exempt

Rather than granting a permanent seal, Judge Hammer handed the matter back to the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department, the custodian of the records. Once Hammer’s temporary sealing order expires on Friday, September 25, any new requests for evidence—including from the NFL—must go through the police department’s filing protocol. The victim and Jacobs retain the right to appeal if the department decides to release the evidence, and that appeal process would occur prior to any potential release. For the league, this means the surveillance video could become available for review, a critical factor that might influence the severity of any punishment handed down to the three-time Pro Bowler.

Legal Proceedings and NFL Implications

Jacobs, 28, has already faced legal consequences. On September 10, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property. He was convicted of battery and fined $1,000, and according to ESPN, he accepted a deferred judgment agreement on the criminal damage charge. As part of the ruling, Jacobs was ordered to pay restitution, attend counseling, avoid contact with the victim, and be supervised for one year. Despite these developments, the NFL’s investigation remains ongoing, and a suspension could be forthcoming. Importantly, time already served on the commissioner exempt list—which began on August 30 and has caused Jacobs to miss the Packers’ first two games—would count toward any suspension. As highlighted on Vulius, the league’s decision will hinge heavily on whether it can access the surveillance video, which the Brown County district attorney has said corroborates the victim’s account.

Packers Organization Awaiting Clarity

Earlier this month, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst acknowledged that the organization had not seen the surveillance video. “In the appropriate times, if those things become available, we’ll figure that stuff out when that time comes,” Gutekunst said on September 1. The criminal complaint, per a September 1 ESPN report, alleged that a woman was attempting to leave Jacobs’ garage when he “grabbed her and threw her to the ground, and she struck her head, suffering an injury.” The Packers have yet to comment on Thursday’s ruling, but the uncertainty continues to loom over a team fighting for early-season positioning.

What’s Next for Jacobs and the Packers?

With the temporary seal lifted on Friday, the Hobart/Lawrence Police Department will field requests for the evidence. The NFL is expected to pursue access, and any decision to release the video could trigger an appeal from either party. For Jacobs, the path back to the field remains murky. He remains on the commissioner exempt list, unable to practice or play, while the league completes its investigation. The Packers, meanwhile, must navigate a short week and a Thursday night clash without their star running back, relying on their depth to keep their season on track. As the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk will continue to monitor, the intersection of legal proceedings and league discipline could reshape both Jacobs’ future and Green Bay’s 2026 campaign.