Green Bay Packers sophomore running back MarShawn Lloyd will miss Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys due to a lingering hamstring injury. The 2024 third-round pick was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return at the roster cutoff deadline, pushing his earliest possible return after four weeks.
What Is MarShawn Lloyd’s Latest Injury Update?
Lloyd played just one game in his rookie season after being drafted out of USC as the 88th pick, and injuries have marred his early NFL career. His latest injury to his hamstring happened during his first game since Week 2 in the 2024 season, while taking part in a preseason game on August 16 against the Indianapolis Colts.
He went down after making a 33-yard catch in only the second quarter after taking a big hit on the play. Lloyd did not return to action after that, with running backs coach Ben Sirmans unsure if the hit caused the injury or if it existed before contact.
While head coach Matt LaFleur stated that Lloyd would “miss some time,” there has been no major update on his timeline for return or the severity of the injury as of now. A recent Roto Baller update suggests that a Week 6 return could be on the table, but the team has not guaranteed his chances of suiting up against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lloyd’s Injury History in the NFL
The Packers envisioned Lloyd as the perfect complement to Josh Jacobs in the backfield, hoping his explosiveness could fill a missing piece in Green Bay’s offense.
With consecutive playoff appearances behind quarterback Jordan Love and defensive upgrades such as the Micah Parsons trade, the team entered the 2025 season optimistic about Lloyd’s potential impact.
Unfortunately, injuries have continually derailed that vision. Lloyd’s first reported setback came at the start of rookie training camp, when a hip issue sidelined him. That was followed by a hamstring injury, which caused him to miss the 2024 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
He returned in Week 2 against the Colts but sustained an ankle injury in the win, which landed him on injured reserve. Later in November, as he was preparing to resume practice before Week 11, Lloyd was sidelined again due to appendicitis, limiting him to just one game in his rookie season.
Eight months later, he suffered a groin injury that ruled him out of the 2025 preseason opener. In Week 2, he aggravated his hamstring — his latest setback with an uncertain recovery timeline, keeping him out of action and casting doubt on his immediate availability for the regular season.
Lloyd’s Return Is Essential To Support Josh Jacobs
The Packers started the season 2-0 before collapsing late in a Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns, blowing a 10-point lead in the final minutes. Still, with wins over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders, Green Bay has shown signs that they are moving in the right direction, even without Lloyd, and remains firmly in the Super Bowl conversation.
Through three games in 2025, in Lloyd’s absence, Jacobs has had to handle a bulk of the workload. Jacobs has logged 58 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns, plus six catches for 48 yards, but is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry — showing why the Packers need Lloyd’s explosiveness back in the rotation.
Jacobs has also been managing an ankle issue, though he handled a full workload in the loss to the Browns and is expected to continue playing through it against the Cowboys in Week 4.
