Running back MarShawn Lloyd has struggled through two injury-plagued seasons in the NFL. In fact, in two years, the former USC star has managed to only play in one regular season game. But this year, Lloyd seems determined to stay healthy and to make an impact on the team’s offense in 2026. Thus far, MarShawn Lloyd is showing what he can do at Green Bay Packers training camp. He realizes this may be his final opportunity to make good on the promise he showed when he was drafted.
MarShawn Lloyd Showing What He Can Do at Packers Camp: An Injury Plagued Start
The Packers selected Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. GM Brian Gutekunst envisioned Lloyd as an ideal change-of-pace back. The 5’8”, 220-pound runner averaged more than seven yards per carry in his final college season. He possesses great speed and cutback ability which made him a threat to break a long run any time he handled the football.
“He’s a 220-pound man. He’s packed in a tighter frame but like his ability to make people miss,” Gutekunst said after he selected Lloyd. “[And] He’s got a little juice to him and, again, he’s 220 pounds, he breaks tackles. We think his best football’s ahead of him.”
As a rookie, Lloyd played one game in Week 2 of the 2024 season. He gained 15 yards on six carries and caught one pass for three yards. He missed the rest of 2024 and all of 2025 with assorted injuries that kept him on the sidelines. The Packers relied on Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks as the primary backups to Josh Jacobs.
Working Hard to Stay Healthy
The Packers and Lloyd spent the offseason working to figure out how he can best avoid future injuries. “We figured out what we needed to do, figured out what I needed, and we just attacked it the whole offseason,” Lloyd said during OTAs. “I didn’t really get to see my family as much as I wanted to because, yes, my family’s important, but my family knows how important this is to me.”
Lloyd put in the work and his teammates noticed. “He’s very explosive, and he does some really good things, but he’s just one of those guys that’s kind of just got that freaky twitch ability that is just God-given,” quarterback Jordan Love told reporters at OTAs. “You catch yourself watching him practice — we watched him in some of the preseason games last year — and you get excited.”
Getting excited during offseason workouts is one thing, but Lloyd needs to show what he can do in a game. He’s off to a strong start at training camp this year. The next step after that will be preseason games followed by regular season contests if he can remain healthy.
Safety Evan Williams has noticed the talent Lloyd possesses. “This guy, MarShawn. I feel like a lot of people forgot what he’s capable of,” Williams said. “He shows up on a daily basis and puts in the work, and he’s flying a million miles an hour. He’s had some bad breaks as far as injuries go. But people have started to write him off, and he’s going to turn some heads this year.”
MarShawn Lloyd Showing What He Can Do at Packers Camp: The Key to the Running Game
The Packers enter the season with a lot of uncertainty at running back. Starter Josh Jacobs remains under investigation for an alleged domestic violence incident that took place over the offseason. No charges have been filed as of yet but even if the authorities never file charges, the NFL can suspend Jacobs based on the findings of their own, independent investigation. The team is also unsure if Lloyd can stay healthy. Chris Brooks is the other experienced back, but he has never been RB2 for a season, let alone the starter. He is also dealing with an injury at camp that has kept him off the field.
Lloyd has a real opportunity to create a significant role for himself and to add another dimension to the Green Bay offense.
His quarterback showed his enthusiasm for Lloyd during the first few days of training camp. “Obviously, we know MarShawn’s gone through his fair share of things,” Love said. “To have him healthy, to have him out there, is great and, obviously, once we get into preseason, going into the season, that’s a guy we need to have out there, because I know he’s going to be a special playmaker.”
The potential is there, but now Lloyd has to go out and do it. He’s shown the right attitude and worked hard, but will his body cooperate this year? We will soon find out.
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