Matt LaFleur on Josh Jacobs’ matter: ‘Unfortunately, situations occur in life’

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur spoke Friday for the first time since running back Josh Jacobs was convicted Thursday of misdemeanor battery.

“Unfortunately, situations occur in life, and it’s just an unfortunate situation,” LaFleur said.

LaFleur said Jacobs’ conviction doesn’t change how he feels about his running back because, “I know the guy and I know the character of the guy.” Asked why the Packers are keeping Jacobs on the team despite him being found guilty of misdemeanor battery against a woman, LaFleur said he wasn’t talking about the situation further until the NFL completes its investigation.

Jacobs remains on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list as the league weighs how long, if at all, to suspend him. He can’t play or practice while on the list.

Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property in a Green Bay court on Thursday. He was fined $1,000 on the battery charge and ordered to complete a five-part deferred judgment program over the next 12 months to get the criminal damage to property charge dropped.

Jacobs made a brief statement in court, saying, “I fully understand the seriousness of the situation, and I take full responsibility.”