A lawsuit filed by Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs targets the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin, seeking a court order that would permanently bar release of certain evidence tied to his criminal matter, among it footage reportedly captured during the episode in question.
The lawsuit, reviewed by a Wisconsin news outlet, laid out a range of arguments from Jacobs and his attorneys as to why the evidence ought to remain undisclosed. Jacobs stated that his position was driven by a need to keep the identity of the woman involved in the 23 May incident from becoming known.
Following the formal charge tied to that episode, the Packers' running back resolved the matter by entering a no-contest plea. Attorneys for Jacobs contended that disclosing the evidence and footage carried a risk of unwanted media exposure for the woman identified in court filings as ANM, with the defence noting that she had sought resolution rather than any form of public scrutiny.
The filing states that ANM has kept her identity out of the public eye and chosen not to speak about the underlying events, and that releasing records identifying, depicting, locating, or disclosing details about her would expose her against her wishes and subject her to renewed public attention.
Jacobs' attorneys also argued in the lawsuit that making video footage available could leave his home open to theft, pointing to a broader pattern in which high-profile athletes have been targeted for property crimes, and noting that disclosing schedule or travel details would allow individuals to determine when the property is unoccupied and exploit any released information about the residence, entry points, or security arrangements.
Jacobs entered a no-contest plea on September 10, with questions about a potential NFL reinstatement or suspension remaining unresolved. His placement on the commissioner's exempt list by the league remains in effect. A formal records request lodged by the NFL has yet to produce the footage it sought.
As of October 11, the NFL put out a statement indicating that no timeline had been set for resolving the question of Jacobs' playing status, with the organisation noting that the matter was still being evaluated under its personal conduct policy. No timeframe has been provided, the league indicated in an official release distributed to a prominent broadcast outlet.
A judge's order dated September 23 lifted a prior seal on case materials, with the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department directed to weigh public, defendant, and victim interests before determining whether those records would be disclosed — an outcome that cleared a path for the footage to become available, though Jacobs' civil action has since put that disclosure on pause.
Jacobs remains out of action for as long as the matter remains unresolved. He will continue drawing his salary throughout the commissioner's exempt list period, though both practice sessions and game appearances are barred to him for the duration.
Across the five contests this season played without Jacobs in the lineup, Green Bay's ground attack has produced a league-low rushing total that trails the next-worst team by close to 20 yards per outing, averaging roughly 60 yards a game.
