Green Bay Packers rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd was on injured reserve for the last five weeks after suffering an injury early in the 2024 NFL season.
Lloyd is now eligible to come off of the IR list, so let’s examine the latest update on his status and what this means from a fantasy standpoint.
The Latest on MarShawn Lloyd’s Injury
Lloyd injured his ankle while making his NFL debut in the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Unfortunately, the Packers’ third-rounder hasn’t been able to stay healthy. The rookie missed OTAs and the start of training camp with a hip issue, strained his hamstring in his first preseason game, and then suffered this ankle injury in his first regular-season action.
Availability is the best ability, particularly when you’re still trying to prove yourself as a rookie and carve out a role on a team with playoff aspirations.
He didn't have an incredibly productive day, but I thought MarShawn Lloyd showed some promise in his first NFL action. pic.twitter.com/KG1vm70W91
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler)
While Packers head coach Matt LaFleur initially raved about Lloyd and said he was “very, very impressed” with him back in September, he seemed frustrated after the injuries started to pile up.
“He’s going to have to get healthy,” LaFleur said after the hamstring injury. “We’ve seen what he’s capable of doing in practice, but you’d just like to see it in a real game.”
After being put on IR, Lloyd sat out four games before becoming eligible to return in Week 7. Lloyd didn’t practice and wasn’t activated for the game, and there haven’t been any recent updates on his status.
The Packers can open Lloyd’s practice window at any time. However, at this point, it’s unlikely he’ll play when Green Bay visits the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Lloyd won’t be fantasy-relevant right away, but the hope is that he can stay healthy and earn a significant role as the season progresses.
Be sure to monitor the Packers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Fantasy Outlook for MarShawn Lloyd and Josh Jacobs
With backup running back A.J. Dillon out for the season due to a neck injury, there was a path to touches for Lloyd behind starting running back Josh Jacobs, who has turned 120 rushes into 540 yards and one touchdown.
In Lloyd’s absence, Emanuel Wilson has stepped into the RB2 role, rushing 47 times for 221 yards while also contributing 47 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Wilson, who went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, has made the most of his opportunities. It’s clear that Green Bay believes in Wilson, as he continues to get first-quarter work, which further complicates things for Lloyd as he gets healthy.
Emanuel Wilson has become a terrific RB2. Averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Has forced 10 missed tackles on 42 attempts. Five runs of 10+. Caught 6 of 7 targets.
Most importantly: Really reliable in pass pro. Only one pressure allowed on 18 pass-blocking snaps.
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2)
In Pro Football Network’s pre-draft scouting report of Lloyd, we warned that he “is a fascinating prospect with jaw-dropping flashes of excellence and anxiety-filled red flags” and that “the medicals could be a real deal breaker for some teams.”
Lloyd impresses with his burst, lateral agility, and ability to change directions. Let’s hope he can put these injuries behind him and start to realize his full potential.
As for Jacobs, he’s been inefficient — just as he has been for the majority of his career.
On a positive note, the Packers have made a concerted effort toward involving Jacobs in the passing game. In fact, he has 15 targets in the four games since Love returned from injury. Regardless, Jacobs’ feature role is extremely safe, so you can continue to start him with confidence.
