Kaleb Johnson has been inching toward the top of the Green Bay Packers’ backfield picture, and the team’s latest offensive line moves could finally give him the runway to take control.
Green Bay added veteran guards Kevin Zeitler and Laken Tomlinson to strengthen the interior of its line, a group that has struggled to create much time for Jordan Love or much room in the run game. The results have been rough. Still, if there’s a beneficiary here, Johnson looks like the one.
Tomlinson and Zeitler may not be ready in time for the Packers’ upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the expectation is that both will be in the starting lineup soon enough. If that happens, Johnson’s path to separating from the rest of the running back group only gets clearer.
The second-year back has already started to gain ground by usage. MarShawn Lloyd played one more snap after his fourth-quarter Week 2 fumble, then disappeared from the touch count.
Johnson handled three of Green Bay’s four offensive snaps in overtime and got both rushing attempts, while no other running back logged a carry. That trend held in the next game, with third-stringer Chris Brooks continuing to serve mainly as a pass-protection option.
Against the Atlanta Falcons in the Packers’ primetime loss, Johnson was also the preferred choice on first and second down, which only adds to the case that his role is growing. The numbers from that game tell the story:
Kaleb Johnson: 23 snaps, 19 first/second-down snaps, 4 carries, 14 routes run, 2 targets
MarShawn Lloyd: 15 snaps, 14 first/second-down snaps, 4 carries, 11 routes run, 3 targets
Chris Brooks: 25 snaps, 12 first/second-down snaps, 0 carries, 20 routes run, 1 target
The broader run-game picture has been ugly through three games. Green Bay’s expected points added sits at -0.013 on designed carries to the left guard and -0.103 on designed carries to the right guard. For comparison, the league-average team EPA per designed rush is -0.105, with higher being better.
That’s where Tomlinson and Zeitler come in. Both are seasoned blockers with decade-plus careers and Pro Bowl honors, with Zeitler doing it most recently in 2023. Their arrival should help the Packers across the board, giving Love more breathing room and making life easier for the backs behind them.
Lloyd and Brooks should also benefit, but Johnson has the clearest chance to lock down the No. 1 job while Josh Jacobs’ off-field matter remains unresolved. Green Bay needs production from the position, and right now Johnson is the back best positioned to seize it.
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