In August 2026, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner exempt list after he was formally charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an alleged incident with a woman.
Jacobs was charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.
In a statement, Jacobs' attorneys David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Clarence F. Duchac III said: "Josh Jacobs has been placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which is an administrative procedure used by the NFL while a matter is being reviewed. It is not a final determination. Josh respects the NFL process, the Packers, and his Coaches and Teammates. He looks forward to his return to the team and the NFL."
Jacobs became the latest player to be placed on the commissioner exempt list, joining Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold. But what exactly is the list, and what happens to a player once he's on it?
Here are key facts about the NFL commissioner exempt list.
What is the commissioner exempt list in the NFL?
The NFL's player personnel manual defines the commissioner exempt list as "a special player status available to clubs only in unusual circumstances," according to NFL.com. The list is designed to serve as a placeholder and give NFL teams some roster flexibility. The designation prevents a player from counting against a team's active roster limit of 53 players.
How does the commissioner exempt list work?
The commissioner exempt list is, in effect, paid leave. While on the list, players are not allowed to play football. Instead, players are permitted to attend meetings, workouts, and receive treatments at the team facility.
Only NFL commissioner Roger Goodell -- not a team -- has the authority to place a player on the exempt list. The commissioner also has the sole authority to determine the length of a player's stint on the exempt list and when that player will return to the active roster.
A player can land on the list for a variety of reasons. It has been used with increasing regularity since 2014, when then-Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was placed on the list for a full season amid child abuse allegations.
The list in recent years has also included Michael Vick (2009), Jonathan Vilma (2012), Greg Hardy (2014), Josh Brown (2016), Reuben Foster (2018), Kareem Hunt (2018), and CeeDee Lamb (2024).
How are players on the commissioner exempt list marked in fantasy?
Because the player is not injured, he is not eligible to be given an "IR" or "Out" designation within the ESPN Fantasy game. That means the manager who rosters the player would have to use a bench spot for him for as long as he remains on the commissioner exempt list.
Why is Jonathon Cooper on the commissioner exempt list?
Cooper was placed on the NFL's commissioner exempt list after he was arrested twice in a seven-day span in June on domestic violence charges relating to incidents involving his girlfriend. He faces a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and three misdemeanors, including violating a protection order.
Why is Terrion Arnold on the commissioner exempt list?
Arnold was placed on the list after he was charged with eight felony counts stemming from a kidnapping and robbery in Tampa, Florida, in February.
Arnold was arrested in Hillsborough County (Florida) in June after turning himself in and was released the following week by the Detroit Lions. Arnold was released from custody after posting a $1 million bond a day before the Lions cut him. The Seattle Seahawks have since signed Arnold to a one-year, minimum-salary deal.
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