Earlier this year, the Green Bay Packers continued their total roster transformation that began back in the 2022 NFL offseason with the trade of All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams. Since then, they have moved on from future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer Mason Crosby, and completely overhauled the tight end and safety positions.
In the spring, Green Bay made the somewhat controversial decision to move on from running back Aaron Jones in favor of free agent Josh Jacobs. While they re-signed AJ Dillon and kept Emanuel Wilson, they also used a third-round draft pick on USC’s Marshawn Lloyd.
Jacobs, obviously, was expected to be (and is) the Packers starting running back. However, Lloyd was expected to compete with Dillon and Wilson for one of the two backup spots on Green Bay’s roster. And if he had been healthy, he might have.
But he has not been able to stay healthy for very long at all.
Green Bay Packers Running Back Marshawn Lloyd Has Been Injured Since Training Camp
Heading into training camp, the battle for the backup running back jobs behind Jacobs was one of the most intriguing. As much hype as there was around it, though, it did not pan out the way many thought that it would.
Dillon, of course, suffered a neck injury that ended up landing him on injured reserve for the season. Lloyd, too, battled injuries, though nothing as serious as a stinger.
That being said, it has been one thing after another for the Packers’ rookie running back. He showed up to training camp injured and did not get to participate in practice until well after it began. Once he was healthy, he hurt his hamstring in a preseason game and was out until the after the start of the regular season.
Once he got healthy, again, he was activated for Green Bay’s Week Two game against the Indianapolis Colts. He carried the ball six times for 15 yards in his first NFL game, which has also been his only NFL game thus far.
In that contest, a Packers win, Lloyd injured his ankle and had to be placed on injured reserve. He has been out ever since.
Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur Reveals a New Injury for Marshawn Lloyd
Earlier this week, the Packers opened Lloyd’s practice window. This means that he was able to return to practice and the team has 21 days to add him to their active roster. It sounded like the rookie running back was close to seeing the field again.
However, on Friday, head coach Matt LaFleur revealed that Lloyd suffered an unforeseen and unavoidable setback: appendicitis.
Marshawn Lloyd had appendicitis and that’s why he missed practice today.
“You can’t make this stuff up,” LaFleur says.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 15, 2024
It really has been an unusual run of bad luck for Lloyd. While fans may complain about his leg injuries, there really is nothing he could have done to avoid needing his appendix removed.
The Packers are in talks with the NFL regarding the practice window and what they can do. In most cases, if a player is not added to the active roster by the end of the practice window, they must be put on season-ending injured reserve.
They would like him to play later in the season after he recovers from surgery. However, it is not yet known what the NFL will decide.
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