The Green Bay Packers are preparing for the stretch drive, and they face a tough schedule. They have a chance to win the NFC North and possibly to even get the top overall seed in the NFC if they finish the season strong. Now, with five games remaining, the Packers offense may be getting some help at just the right time. The Packers offense is about to get a boost as injured players are nearing their return. We examine the players who are nearly back and what impact they can have on the Green Bay offense.

Packers Offense About to Get a Boost As Injured Players Near Return: The Running Back

The Packers opened the 21-day window for running back MarShawn Lloyd to return to action on Monday, December 1st. The 2024 third-round pick out of USC has only appeared in one NFL game thus far. He carried six times for 15 yards and caught one pass three yards in the Packers Week 2 win over the Colts in 2024 and then missed the rest of the season due to injuries.

This year, the Packers were hoping he would be ready to start the season, but he suffered a groin pull early in training camp. He managed to return for a preseason game but strained a hamstring and is just now returning to practice. The Packers did send him to a specialist to address any imbalances in his body to prevent future injuries.

Barring injuries, Lloyd will not start when he returns. Josh Jacobs will remain the primary ball carrier with Chris Brooks being the primary back in obvious passing situations for his blocking skills. But Lloyd can give the offense a different kind of runner. Both Jacobs and backup Emanuel Wilson are primarily between the tackles runners. Lloyd is more of a speedy, one-cut runner who can break a long gain on any play. He can also be used as a receiver out of the backfield as he showed during the preseason.

Adding a runner with a different style and the ability to break long gains will be a good addition to the offense.

The Wide Receiver

Wide receiver Jayden Reed appears to be closer to returning than Lloyd as he’s been practicing with the team longer. The third-year man out of Michigan State has been out of the lineup since Week 2. He had surgery to repair a broken collarbone and a fracture in his foot.

Reed led the Packers in catches in each of his of his first two seasons with the team. He operated predominantly out of the slot. He would run short and intermediate routes and also gadget plays like jet sweeps, end arounds and wide receiver screens.

Reed will give quarterback Jordan Love a reliable short and intermediate target who can provide him with check downs and sure gains. Reed could replace some of the targets that were previously going to tight end Tucker Kraft who is out for the season.

The return of Reed and rookie Matthew Golden will give the Packers more receiving weapons to join Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. This would mark the first time all season the Packers had their receiver room all healthy and available at the same time.

Packers Offense About to Get a Boost As Injured Players Near Return: The Outlook

Reed should be back this Sunday against the Bears. The Packers already waived wide receiver Will Sheppard to make room on the 53-man roster for Reed.

While he will likely be on a play count at first, Reed should be able to give the team 15-20 plays in his first game back. That number should increase each week as he gets back into football shape.

Lloyd will probably need at least another week of practice. He’s been out longer and started practicing later than Reed. The Packers also have three running backs on the roster who are more than capable of handling the load against the Bears.

Love is heating up late in the season as he tends to do and adding additional weapons to the offense for the stretch drive should only make the Packers a more dangerous team to face.

 

 

 

 

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