Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) hands the ball off to running back Marshawn Lloyd (32) in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) hands the ball off to running back Marshawn Lloyd (32) in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Green Bay Packers have been hit with a haymaker as they prepare for the start of the NFL season. They knew that they had a potential problem on their hands because of Josh Jacobs' off-the-field difficulties, but there was hope that it would not impact them on the field until Jacobs' legal case stemming from an alleged altercation at his home on May 23 was adjudicated.
Jacobs was formally charged Thursday with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property. There was a thought that the matter would play out through the legal system before the NFL took any action, but he was placed on the commissioner's exempt list. That means he cannot practice or play with the team but he could possibly go to the team's facility for rehab, therapy and non-football activities if he makes such a request and the Packers are in agreement.
Prior to the announcement of the suspension, the Packers acquired running back Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson was a third-round pick in the 2025 draft after a solid college career at Iowa, but he was never able to gain the confidence of the Steelers coaching staff. He gained 69 yards on 28 carries a year ago and made a notable special teams error in a loss to the Seahawks that result in an easy touchdown for the eventual Super Bowl champions.
However, the 6-1, 225-pound Johnson had a monster season for the Hawkeyes in 2024, and the Packers will try to draw that kind of performance out of him. While he does not have game-breaking speed, he gained 1,537 yards on 240 carries for a 6.4 yards per carry average that included 21 rushing touchdowns during his final season with the Hawkeyes.
Packers have to turn to MarShawn Lloyd
The addition of Johnson gives the Packers some much-needed depth at the running back position, but it will take him some time to get acclimated to the Green Bay system.
Head coach Matt LaFleur does not have to force-feed Johnson into the game plan when the Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. He will eventually get an opportunity to show what he can do, but it may not be until Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons or Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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The first option is turning to MarShawn Lloyd. He has had injury issues since he was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft after playing his college football at USC and South Carolina.
Lloyd has played just one game in his NFL career because he has had a series of injuries. However, he has been healthy this summer and has looked like the most explosive running back that the Packers have on their roster. Lloyd has shown he can hit the hole quickly, finish his runs with authority and he appears to be very hungry for success.
The Packers also have Chris Brooks, but he is more of a third-down back who can also block fairly well. He is a nice option, but he is not the kind of running back the Packers can depend on for big plays.
The Packers do not have to panic and sign a running back off the street. They need to build Lloyd up and let him know that he will be the team's No. 1 running back. If they can increase his confidence just a bit, they may have a running back who can do a decent-to-good job.
He is not a star, but he can be a competent running back.