Packers make a simple roster move, but it can have more complex implications down the road
The Green Bay Packers have activated running back MarShawn Lloyd off the injured reserve. The move is a simple one, since the Packers had left an open roster spot exactly for that reason. But it became a more complex situation on Friday, and the implications will go beyond a simple activation for Green Bay. On […]
The Green Bay Packers have activated running back MarShawn Lloyd off the injured reserve. The move is a simple one, since the Packers had left an open roster spot exactly for that reason.
But it became a more complex situation on Friday, and the implications will go beyond a simple activation for Green Bay.
On Friday, the rookie running back had appendicitis, which prevented him from getting back to the field against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
How it unfolded
Llloyd was on the injured reserve since the early part of the season. He injured his ankle in Week 2, against the Indianapolis Colts. Last week, he was getting healthier and the Packers opened his 21-day practice window to return.
In that three-week period, the Packers would have the option to activate the third-round pick or not for each game. But if the 21-day period ends and Green Bay didn’t activate him, Lloyd would be out for the rest of the 2024 season.
The problem is that MarShawn Lloyd had appendicitis, and he will possibly miss more time. The Packers couldn’t close the window once again, and if it’s a six-week issue, for instance, there wouldn’t be enough time for him to recover before the activation.
Plan
Now, the Packers have two options. The first one is to carry MarShawn Lloyd on the active 53-man roster and make him an inactive player every week until he’s fully healthy.
The other option, which seems even more likely at this point, is to place Lloyd on injured reserve once again.
If this second scenario happens, he would miss at least the next four games (San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks). He would be eligible to return for the final three games of the regular season, against the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears — plus the playoffs, if the Packers make it.
As it's a non-football illness, it'd be a different designation, and it can have deeper financial implications.
Since the covid pandemic hit the world, the NFL has constantly adjusted roster rules to create more flexibility. Now, teams are allowed to designate up to eight players to return during the season — and 10 for teams that make the playoffs. Each player can be designated to return twice in the same season, so MarShawn Lloyd could take advantage of that flexibility.
At the moment, the Packers have four running backs on the 53-man roster. Beyond Lloyd, the options are Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, and Emanuel Wilson. Ellis Merriweather is a member of the practice squad.
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