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Detroit Lions fans made it clear what they thought of Josh Jacobs in his first game of the 2026 NFL season.
Jacobs missed the first six weeks of the season after being placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List due to a domestic incident in May. The 28-year-old was taken off the list by the NFL on Oct. 19, allowing the Green Bay Packers star to step on the field for the first time this season.
However, Lions fans' feelings toward the embattled running back were evident whenever he touched the ball at Ford Field, despite Jacobs apologizing for his actions and acknowledging how they could have affected the other parties involved ahead of his return to play.
Matt Schneidman, a beat writer for The Athletic covering the Packers, wrote on X that whenever Jacobs touched the ball, the Lions fans would strongly boo the 28-year-old. And yet despite the boos he received, it appeared as if the outside noise did not bother him.
With 12:22 remaining in the third quarter and the Packers down 10-7, star quarterback Jordan Love found Jacobs on the 20-yard line and slung the ball to the recently-returned star. Stumbling with the ball, Jacobs sprinted to the end zone, running as close to the sideline as he could.
He even broke a tackle en route to a score, his first of the season. After making it into the end zone, the star dropped to his knees and celebrated by holding his arms out and looking up to the sky, seemingly in a prayer pose.
As for Jacobs, the star issued an apology when speaking to reporters for the first time. "I'm excited to be back with the team, with the guys," he said before thanking the organization for staunchly defending him while he was on the exempt list.
"Obviously, man, I'm remorseful, and I'm sorry for putting this team in this situation," he continued before stating that it only took a few seconds for his life to change almost overnight. "Sometimes when you go through life, situations occur, and a four-second, three-second decision can alter your life, honestly," Jacobs added.
Declining to dive into specifics, Jacobs also noted that each experience was something he could use to be a better person. "I'm still a human being, man. Still trying to learn, still trying to grow from the whole process," he explained.
Notably, the fans' response and Jacobs' apology come after the details of his altercation with his then-girlfriend were revealed.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection was accused of grabbing the woman and throwing her to the floor of his garage, causing her to hit her head. Police looked at available surveillance footage from the garage, which supported the allegations of battery and the destruction of her phone.
As a result, the woman sustained redness to her face and neck and a bump on the back of her head was observed following the altercation.
The 28-year-old is due to return to court in one year, when the criminal damage to property charge could be dismissed if he commits no other criminal acts, ceases contact with the victim, completes supervision and counseling, and makes restitution payments to the woman.
Jacobs has filed a civil suit seeking a permanent injunction restricting access to the release of records and the video, specifically citing the increase in robberies of athletes' homes to not release the video. Notably, the NFL is attempting to retrieve the video as part of its investigation.