The Packers are starting to see a different future emerge for one intriguing offensive piece
The front office and coaching staff are growing cautiously optimistic about running back MarShawn Lloyd’s health and impact at training camp.
The Green Bay Packers are seeing encouraging signs from running back MarShawn Lloyd during 2026 training camp, and the organization is growing cautiously optimistic about what the former third-round pick can bring to a running back room that needs him healthy.
Lloyd, selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, has battled injuries throughout his first two NFL seasons, playing only one regular-season game with six carries for 15 yards and one reception. Now, though, the explosive back appears to have identified the root cause of his recurring hamstring problems and is working his way back.
And Lloyd is so confident about his body that he’s doing backflips to celebrate training camp touchdowns.
The root of the injury problem
Lloyd’s struggles were never about talent. The issue traces back to a torn ACL he suffered in college. According to Lloyd and the team, he had been overcompensating for that knee with other parts of his leg, which led to the recurring hamstring injuries that derailed his first two years in the NFL. The rookie year absence was compounded by an appendicitis.
This offseason, Lloyd pursued the correct treatment to address the underlying issue. He has also taken a more conservative approach in practice, avoiding overexposure while building strength progressively throughout camp. The early results have been positive: Lloyd has looked good on the field and, most importantly, has stayed healthy.
“I know you guys are here every day, so you’ve seen it,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “Every time he’s had an opportunity, when he’s been healthy and out there, he’s been impactful. He’s continuing to do that, and I am excited for him.”
The cautious tone is intentional. Last year, Lloyd was also having a promising training camp before suffering an injury in his first preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts after hauling in a long reception. The Packers know they need to see Lloyd hold up in preseason action and then carry that into the regular season before drawing any firm conclusions.
“Again, it’s still very early and he’s got a long way to go, but when he’s on the field, he’s making plays and turning heads,” Gutekunst mentioned. “He’s always kind of done that since he’s been here whenever he’s been able to get out there. So yeah, I’m excited about where he’s headed.”
Lloyd is key for Green Bay’s running back depth
This development carries added weight because the Packers’ running back room is thinner than it had been in recent years. Josh Jacobs is the projected starter, but there’s uncertainty around him after being arrested during the offseason, and it remains unclear whether that situation will produce additional repercussions for Jacobs or Green Bay.
Beyond Jacobs, the Packers allowed Emanuel Wilson to leave in free agency, removing a contributor who had carved out a role over the past two seasons. The remaining depth behind Jacobs and Lloyd consists primarily of Chris Brooks, who functions more as a third-down blitz-pickup specialist than a featured ball carrier.
If Lloyd can become the player the Packers envisioned when they drafted him in the third round, Green Bay will have a much more reliable and higher-ceiling option to complement Jacobs during the regular season.
