Josh Jacobs is only two games removed from his stint on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, and his first rushing touchdown of the season immediately drew attention for reasons beyond the score.

On Thursday night at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers running back capped a 1-yard touchdown run by putting his hands behind his back after crossing the goal line, giving Green Bay a 13-10 second-quarter lead in its eventual 27-19 win over the Carolina Panthers. The celebration was quickly interpreted as a reference to Jacobs’ May arrest, but after the game, he offered a very different explanation for the gesture.

However, that explanation hasn’t fully settled things for Packers analyst Peter Bukowski.

Josh Jacobs Cites a Gospel Song as Peter Bukowski Questions Judgment

Packers reporter Peter Bukowski shared a longer version of the celebration Friday morning and acknowledged that the additional footage supported Jacobs’ explanation of what had happened.

Reacting to the full touchdown celebration video, Bukowski wrote that it “supports Jacobs’ story that this was a planned celebration with Savion Williams (with reference to a gospel song).” But he stopped short of signing off on the decision itself, adding, “I’d still argue pretty poor judgment overall.”

The longer clip helps explain why Bukowski gave Jacobs’ account some credence. Packers wide receiver Savion Williams hurries over after the touchdown and mimes unlocking imaginary chains around Jacobs’ wrists before Jacobs breaks loose.

Jacobs provided that explanation after the game, saying the Prime Video broadcast had not shown the entire celebration.

“They didn’t even get the whole celebration,” Jacobs said. “Basically, last week, we said the first celebration, when I score, I was going to thank God — that’s what I did last week,” he said of the routine he and Williams had planned. “The second one was going to be ‘Break Every Chain.’ It’s a gospel song. That was going to be the next celebration.”

Jacobs also took aim at how the moment would be covered.

“It’s just a correlation, but like I said, the media [is] going to run with it. They’re going to make it something that it wasn’t, but it is what it is.”

“I didn’t think it was going to be a thing that can be perceived a certain type of way,” he said. “But it’s 2026, and it is what it is.”

Before Jacobs explained the celebration, some fans interpreted the hands-behind-the-back gesture as a reference to his arrest and criticized him for appearing to make light of his legal situation. That initial reaction is what made his postgame explanation so important.

The sensitivity around the gesture stems from Jacobs’ legal situation earlier this year. Police were called to Jacobs’ home in May following a reported physical confrontation with his girlfriend, and he was later arrested. He faced two misdemeanor counts, including battery and a property-related charge.

Jacobs pleaded no contest in September, bringing the court case to a close. The plea resulted in a battery conviction, while the property charge was handled through a deferred judgment agreement.

The case also resulted in Jacobs spending the first six games of the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt List before he was reinstated ahead of the Detroit game. Although he is back in the lineup, he could still face additional NFL discipline stemming from the incident.

In two games this season, Jacobs has rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries while adding 11 receptions for 68 yards and two scores. He also posted a PFN RB Impact Grade of 75.1 for his performance against the Panthers.