Packers RB Josh Jacobs gets court date moved up to next week as NFL season is set to kick off

Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs received a legal gift on Friday if it means playing this season for the Packers after landing himself on the commissioner’s exempt list. 

Jacobs has been accused of throwing his girlfriend to the ground, causing her to strike her head, among other allegations following an argument over whether Jacobs was cheating on her. 

The May arrest preceded criminal charges on Aug. 27 in Brown County. Jacobs avoided felonies and instead was charged with two misdemeanors  — battery and criminal damage to property. 

His next court date was set for Nov. 17, but has been moved to Sept. 10, three days before the season opener in Minnesota, according to Wisconsin court records. 

Jacobs remained on the commissioner’s exempt list on Friday, meaning he can’t practice or play, but has been allowed in the team facility. Only NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can remove Jacobs from the list. 

In the past, the NFL typically placed players on the list to wait for legal proceedings to play out before potentially issuing a suspension for the player. Being his charges are misdemeanors, the legal process could be completed quickly. 

Even if Jacobs is suspended, precedent shows it’s unlikely to be for the season and instead the Packers may get back their star running back at some point this season. 

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.