MarShawn Lloyd’s summer has gone about as well as the Packers could have hoped - and maybe even a little better than that - but the first bit of caution has already arrived.
After a pair of injury-hit seasons, Lloyd wasn’t exactly entering 2026 with huge expectations in Green Bay. Instead, he’s stayed on the field this summer and started carving out a real role in the team’s plans. That matters even more now with Josh Jacobs dealing with a groin injury, because the Packers may need Lloyd sooner than they planned.
The attention on Lloyd picked up during Day 7 of training camp, when he celebrated a touchdown with a backflip. It was a lively moment, and it also served as a reminder of how good he’s looked physically after rarely being able to say that over the previous two years. But it also introduced a very obvious risk.
That’s why Matt LaFleur stepped in. Lloyd said the coach told him to stop.
"Coach LaFleur doesn't want me to do it no more," Lloyd said, via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Can you blame him?
Green Bay can’t really afford a setback here. Lloyd has been limited to just one game during his time in Titletown, and with Jacobs sidelined by what doesn’t appear to be a serious groin issue, the Packers are already leaning on their depth at running back more than expected in camp.
The problem is that the depth behind the top option isn’t exactly reassuring. Chris Brooks is working back from a hamstring injury he picked up before camp, and while LaFleur doesn’t sound especially worried about his status, Brooks still profiles more as a complementary piece than someone who can carry a heavy load. He’s better in smaller bursts.
If Brooks isn’t the answer for extended work, the next option is Pierre Strong Jr. Strong entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2022, was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2023, then got cut before the regular season and spent the 2025 season on Green Bay’s practice squad.
That’s the reality behind Lloyd’s importance. If he gets hurt again, the Packers could reach a point where they seriously rethink the fit.
But if he stays healthy, the whole picture changes fast. A backfield with Lloyd and Jacobs could be dangerous, and the running back room could go from a concern to a strength.
General manager Brian Gutekunst may already believe enough in this group not to bring in another back to replace Emanuel Wilson. Whether that faith pays off is still to be determined.
For Lloyd, though, the mission is simple: stay on the field. And maybe keep the backflips out of it.
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