The Green Bay Packers shared more bad news about the health of running back MarShawn Lloyd after putting together their initial roster for the 2025 season.
According to the team’s transaction wire, the Packers placed Lloyd on injured reserve with a return designation during Tuesday’s 53-man roster cutdown, ensuring that the 2024 third-round pick will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.
Lloyd — the Packers’ projected backup behind Josh Jacobs — injured his hamstring in the second quarter of August 17’s preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts and dropped out of the matchup, creating concern for his immediate availability in Week 1.
One day later, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Lloyd would “miss some time” with his new injury, but he did not detail how long they expected him out.
Lloyd is not eligible to return to the 53-man roster until at least Week 5 at the earliest, but the Packers have a bye that week and could take advantage of their downtime to start working him back into the fold at practice — if he is healthy enough by that point.
In the meantime, the Packers will lean on Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks to pick up additional carries in their rotation behind Jacobs, who rushed for 1,349 yards in 2024.
MarShawn Lloyd’s Injury Troubles Remain an Issue
Lloyd might only be entering his second NFL season as a former Day 2 draft pick, but his time is starting to run out to make it work with the Packers, thanks to his injuries.
Lloyd missed heaps of time as a rookie in 2024 because of injuries. Hip and hamstring kept him off the field for significant portions of training camp along with the first game of the regular season. He then suffered an ankle injury during his NFL debut against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2, landing on injured reserve for the first time.
While Lloyd tried twice to return later in the season, an emergency appendectomy in November and a subsequent hamstring injury after his recovery kept him sidelined.
Lloyd could have put his injury troubles behind him with a healthy camp this summer, but he hasn’t been much luckier with his health ahead of his sophomore NFL season. After sitting out the first preseason game with a groin injury, he managed to take just six carries for 15 yards and make one 33-yard catch before suffering his latest injury.
The Packers are likely to remain patient with Lloyd’s health for the rest of the season, but his roster security may evaporate if he struggles with availability throughout 2025.
Packers Stashed More RB Talent on Practice Squad
While losing Lloyd again is a blow, the Packers should feel confident about the current personnel in their backfield after the same trio finished top 5 in the NFL last season.
Wilson, a former undrafted rookie, was a particular standout as the No. 2 rusher behind Jacobs, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and eclipsing 500 rushing yards for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old also made 11 receptions and scored 5 total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Brooks chipped in with solid efficiency, averaging 5.1 yards on 36 carries.
At the same time, the Packers have another backup option to consider if they want to add a fourth running back to the mix on game day at any point. The team re-signed running back Israel Abanikanda — a 2023 fifth-rounder for the New York Jets — to their practice squad on Tuesday after giving him plenty of touches during the preseason.
Abanikanda is unlikely to receive a game-day promotion from the practice squad unless an injury impacts the availability of the current three-man rotation, but he does offer the Packers a greater sense of security while they wait for Lloyd to fully recover.
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