After battling a hamstring injury and recovering from an appendectomy, Packers’ second-year running back MarShawn Lloyd is looking to produce in a big way after not being able to as a rookie.
The 2024 third-round pick will look to provide some stability, along with backup Emanuel Wilson, behind star Josh Jacobs.
A Reminder of What MarShawn Lloyd is Capable of
In his final season at USC before being drafted by Green Bay, Lloyd ended up rushing for 820 yards on 116 rushing attempts.
That means that he averaged over seven yards per rushing attempt, which is ridiculous, even at the college level.
Before transferring to play for the USC Trojans, Lloyd averaged 5.2 yards per rush for the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2022.
I still believe in Marshawn Lloyd. Had a cursed rookie season in terms of injury but wouldn’t be hard for him to become RB2 behind Josh Jacobs. pic.twitter.com/GkorX7flQG
— Jacob (@NotionsOfJacob) April 28, 2025
His ability to cut inside and out, combined with his 220-pound frame, makes him a true force in the right offense, and that offense appears to be in Green Bay.
In 2024, the Packers finished the season ranked fifth in rushing offense (146.8 rushing yards per game), and Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs had a lot to do with that.
But why can’t Lloyd do the same thing?
In Lloyd’s lone NFL game played last season, he had six rushing attempts for 15 yards, along with one reception for three yards.
While his numbers weren’t spectacular, he showed off his potential on a couple of plays, which is all Packers fans and insiders needed to see.
He didn't have an incredibly productive day, but I thought MarShawn Lloyd showed some promise in his first NFL action. pic.twitter.com/KG1vm70W91
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) September 16, 2024
How Deep is the Packers’ Running Back Room?
There is no doubt that Josh Jacobs is the star in the running back room for head coach Matt LaFleur, especially after he rushed for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns on over 300 rushing attempts.
Not only is he the star among the running backs, but he could very well be the face of the Green Bay Packers offense.
Then comes Lloyd, who has a lot of potential but has yet to show it off in a big way.
Along with Lloyd comes Emanuel Wilson (career 5.0 yards per rush) and Chris Brooks (career 5.3 yards per rush), who are each quality players when called upon.
While Jacobs might dominate the carries and be one of the best at his position in the league, all of LaFleur’s running backs can be dangerous when given opportunities.