The Green Bay Packers need running back MarShawn Lloyd to take a step forward in his third NFL season. Head coach Matt LeFleur made sure to mention that it is still OTAs and it is early in the season, but Lloyd has done everything right to put himself in a position to have his best year.
Lloyd has been a draft dud to date. The third-round pick has just six carries for 15 yards in his first two NFL seasons. It has not been for his ability, though. Lloyd has been hampered by injuries, and most of them have been lower-body and soft-tissue injuries.
He suffered a hamstring injury and an ankle injury in 2024. In 2025, it was his groin and then his hamstring once again. Over that time, LeFleur has expressed frustration, so it is good to see that there is positive talk around Lloyd at this point, even if the head coach remains guarded in his praise.
The Green Bay Packers Might Need MarShawn Lloyd in 2026
GettyPackers running back MarShawn Lloyd.
Lloyd is entering a critical stretch before extension talks could emerge after his fourth year, and whatever he does in year three will lead negotiations before the final year of his deal. More than that, the backup running back spot has remained wide open despite him missing time.
As questions continue to arise surrounding Josh Jacobs and his status, the backup could end up seeing a lot more work than usual. Jacobs could be released, suspended, or even placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. All three scenarios would lead to the backup seeing a significant increase in their workload.
If Lloyd could take control of the backfield in year three, he could put himself in position to be their lead running back next year, and receive legitimate extension offers. That would be quite a turnaround from the first two years.
MarShawn Lloyd Leads a Weaker Packers Running Back Depth Chart
The top competition for Lloyd right now is Christopher Brooks. Brooks was a UDFA back in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins. He has been with Green Bay for the past two years, but he has 63 carries for 289 yards with the Packers and 82 carries for 395 yards over his three-year career. He does have more carries than Lloyd, but Lloyd has more pedigree and potential if he can live up to expectations.
The rest of the depth chart brings less experience. Pierre Strong has been with the Packers for the past year, but he has not had an NFL carry since the 2024 season. Damien Martinez was a seventh-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks last year, who ended up with the Packers after doing nothing in the regular season. Then, there is Jaden Nixon, a rookie UDFA who has yet to step foot on an NFL field.
If Jacobs does miss time, and the Packers do not add a new running back into the mix, this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. The only thing that could stop Lloyd from starting amongst this group would be another injury.
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