The Green Bay Packers are considering MarShawn Lloyd as their No. 2 running back, despite concerns about his reliability and injury history. There are questions about whether they will seek a veteran running back before training camp.
Key points
Packers are considering MarShawn Lloyd as No. 2 running back
Concerns exist about Lloyd's reliability and injury history
Speculation about acquiring a veteran running back
Lloyd's injuries have primarily been soft tissue
He went through a program at UW that helped other players
Mentioned in this story
Pete Dougherty
Green Bay PackersMarShawn LloydJosh JacobsChristian Watson
Scott Velasquez: The running back room seems a little light and highly dependent on [Josh] Jacobs. Do you foresee management getting a veteran RB before training camp? They need to add some explosiveness and MarShawn Lloyd has already proven to be unreliable.
Alison G: Unless the Packers are waiting for cuts, they seem to be banking on MarShawn Lloyd as the top backup running back. Weren't most of his injuries soft tissue in nature? And didn't he go through the same program [at UW] that seems to have worked for Christian Watson? If so, maybe backup RB isn't as dire as it seems. What say you, Pete?
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd leaves the field following a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd leaves the field following a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Dougherty: Backup running back was one of my big questions immediately after the draft. It’s a crucial position in Matt LaFleur’s offense, and it’s such a high-attrition position you really need a couple of good ones to get through a season.
Q&A
What are the concerns about MarShawn Lloyd's reliability as a running back?
Concerns about MarShawn Lloyd's reliability stem from his history of injuries, particularly soft tissue issues, which have raised doubts about his ability to perform consistently.
Will the Packers acquire a veteran running back before training camp?
There is speculation that the Packers may look to add a veteran running back before training camp, especially given the current light depth in their running back room.
How did MarShawn Lloyd's injury history affect his performance?
MarShawn Lloyd's injury history, particularly with soft tissue injuries, has impacted his performance and raised questions about his reliability as a backup running back.
What program did MarShawn Lloyd go through at UW that helped other players?
MarShawn Lloyd went through a program at the University of Washington that has reportedly benefited other players, such as Christian Watson, in managing their injuries.
Related Articles
Soccer·Recap
Knaak's late strike edges Man City closer to WSL title
Knaak's late goal secures victory for Man City, edging them closer to the WSL title.
Sky Sports··1 min read
F1·Preview
F1 Miami schedule pushed up to evade Sunday's forecasted rainstorms
F1 Miami Grand Prix rescheduled to 1 p.m. due to rain forecast.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Soccer·Recap
Derby County 1-2 Sheffield United: Blades Show Steel to End Season With Comeback Win
Sheffield United ends season with a comeback win over Derby County!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Ponga un 'Búfalo' en su vida: pisa el verde, marca y el líder remonta
Racing se impone 4-2 a Huesca; Villalibre brilla en el partido
Marca··1 min read
Sports
¡Los 'Spanish Beatles' también estarán en el Mundial de Pekín!
¡Los 'Spanish Beatles' también estarán en el Mundial de Pekín tras clasificar!
Marca··1 min read
Cricket·Feature
Dream for every cricketer to play a Test at Lord's: Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur calls playing a Test at Lord's a dream for cricketers.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
So yeah, I’m still thinking that somehow or other the Packers need to add another running back. I suppose it could be in the next couple of weeks, though more likely during training camp, at the end of camp or maybe in a trade before the trade deadline during the season.
The Packers did sign an undrafted rookie running back, Central Florida’s Jaden Nixon. But this was a weak RB class overall, and I doubt they expect him to come in as a rookie and be their No. 2.
He’s a small back (5-foot-9, 199 pounds) and averaged 6.1 yards a carry at Oklahoma State, Western Michigan and Central Florida in his college career. There’s always the chance he’ll surprise and win the No. 2 role if Lloyd’s injury issues continue – it's worth remembering that Emanuel Wilson was undrafted and became the No. 2. But it’s not something anyone should be counting on. So yeah, it seems like a really big roll of the dice with Lloyd. His run of soft-tissue injury after soft-tissue injury over two years has been incredible.
As Alison G. said, Lloyd did visit a biomechanics clinic in California later last year to try to get to the bottom of his soft-tissue issues. Our Tom Silverstein reported that the clinic determined an ACL tear he sustained in college was making him susceptible to muscle pulls.
The Green Bay Packers made six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft with Brandon Cisse of the South Carolina Gamecocks their first pick in the second round.
Scroll through this gallery for info on the players part of the Packers' 2026 draft class.
Brandon Cisse, cornerback, South Carolina, second round round (52nd overall)
Chris McClellan, defensive tackle, Missouri, third round (77th overall)
Chris McClellan played the final two years of his college career at Missouri after two years at Florida.
Dani Dennis-Sutton, edge rusher, Penn State, fourth round (120th overall)
Dani Dennis-Sutton spent his entire four-year college career at Penn State.
Here are the Green Bay Packers 2026 draft picks in photos
Trey Smack spent all four years of his college career at Florida.
He returned to practice at the end of the season but never was activated to the roster. But he’s had quite a while to work through whatever rehab/maintenance program prescribed.
So the Packers might have reason to be optimistic. But it still looks like a big roll of the dice. For what it’s worth, right after the draft, GM Brian Gutekunst said he had no plans to add a veteran back. LaFleur said backup running back is something they’ll be monitoring in the offseason.
It’s worth remembering, too, that you never know what they might be thinking. They paid Brandon McManus his $1M roster bonus in March, so it looked like he was for sure their kicker again this year. Then they surprised everyone with their trade of two D7s to move up for Trey Smack with the last pick of the sixth round.
It could be they’re content to see whether Lloyd can get through camp healthy, and if not add a back via a waiver claim after the roster cutdown, or make a trade. Or even wait until early in the season to make a trade.
Regardless, I don’t see any way they can go into the season with Chris Brooks as their No. 2. He’s a good special-teams player, but he’s not much of a threat with the ball in his hands. I know the Packers and some observers like him as a third-down back because of his blocking, but if I’m a defensive coordinator, I’m fine seeing him take the field on third downs because you don’t have to worry about him making a play.
