MarShawn Lloyd Injury Update Cardinals Week 7
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Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd.
MarShawn Lloyd might be eligible to return from the injured reserve list, but the Green Bay Packers are not ready to designate him for return just yet.
The Packers placed Lloyd — a 2024 third-round pick — on IR with a hamstring injury during the 53-man roster cutdown in August, but they are allowed to open his 21-day activation window to return to practice at any point now that he has missed four games.
While the Packers are feeling encouraged about Lloyd’s progress, though, head coach Matt LaFleur made it clear Wednesday morning that he won’t be ready to return to the practice field this week ahead of Sunday’s road game against the Arizona Cardinals.
“He’s getting closer, I would say,” LaFleur said Wednesday, following up with a short “no” when asked whether Lloyd would return to the practice field during Week 7.
The Packers have run the ball just fine without Lloyd, averaging the 12th-most rushing yards (122.2 yards per game) through the first six weeks of the season behind the high-level play of star running back Josh Jacobs. Even still, the offense would welcome the return of another playmaker, one who has played very little since entering the NFL.
Injuries Have Disrupted MarShawn Lloyd’s Career
The Packers had high expectations for Lloyd when they selected him with the No. 88 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but injuries have largely grounded him thus far.
Lloyd has missed more time than he has been available for the Packers since he joined the team as a rookie. He has dealt with injuries to his hip, hamstring, ankle and groin since the start of 2024’s training camp. He also had appendicitis, which forced him to undergo an emergency appendectomy and further delayed his return to the field.
While the Packers can overlook injuries to a point, Lloyd has carried the ball just six times for 15 yards and played only 10 offensive snaps to this point in his NFL career.
That’s difficult for the Packers to believe in, even if they once had high hopes for him.
Has Emanuel Wilson Fully Replaced MarShawn Lloyd?
Lloyd will expectably make his return to the Packers’ lineup at some point this season. They will have 21 days to activate him back to the 53-man roster once they designate him for return to practice, which could happen as soon as Week 8 — if he is ready.
Once Lloyd is back on the 53-man roster, though, he won’t have a clear path to playing time with how backup running back Emanuel Wilson has run since the start of 2024.
Wilson had a breakout season for the Packers as the change-of-pace back behind Jacobs in 2024, stepping up in Lloyd’s absence and gaining 504 yards and four touchdowns on 103 carries. The Packers have not needed to lean on him much thus far in 2025, but he is still averaging 4.7 yards per carry (18 carries for 84 yards) over the first five games.
Lloyd should still have a chance to earn his touches, but it will be more difficult for him to pry away regular snaps with Wilson looking like all the Packers need behind Jacobs.