The Green Bay Packers are feeling the weight of the injury bug at a crucial point in the season, and the latest blow comes in the form of another setback for rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd. After working his way back from a previous hamstring issue, Lloyd has re-aggravated the injury, casting serious doubt on whether he’ll see the field again this season.
Lloyd was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft with high hopes that he’d add a burst of speed and explosiveness to a backfield already anchored by Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson. But so far, that vision hasn’t materialized.
The rookie has logged just one regular season appearance, carrying the ball six times for 15 yards and adding a single reception for three yards. It’s been a frustrating start for a player who flashed serious potential during his junior season at USC, where he racked up 820 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, and added 232 yards through the air on 13 catches.
Without Lloyd’s dynamic element, the Packers will have to lean even harder on the backs who’ve carried the load all year. Jacobs has been the workhorse, posting 890 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns while also contributing as a pass-catcher with 33 receptions for 270 yards and a score. Wilson has served as a solid change-of-pace option, tallying 354 rushing yards and three touchdowns, plus 87 yards on 13 catches.
Chris Brooks has also carved out a role as the third-down back, particularly valued for his pass protection. While none of these backs bring the same home-run speed that Lloyd was expected to provide, Green Bay’s running back room remains one of the more well-rounded units in the league. That depth is going to be critical down the stretch.
And they’ll need every bit of it, especially with the defense taking a major hit. Star pass rusher Micah Parsons is out for the year with a torn ACL - a devastating loss for a unit that relied heavily on his disruptive presence.
Parsons was a force, plain and simple. With 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hits, he was the engine of Green Bay’s pass rush and a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
There’s simply no replacing a player like Parsons. His absence is going to shift the burden squarely onto the offense, which now needs to be more than just efficient - it needs to be explosive.
That means head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love will have to be at their sharpest. The margin for error just got a lot smaller.
Green Bay still has the talent to make noise in the postseason, but the path forward is steeper. With Lloyd likely sidelined and Parsons officially out, the Packers’ playoff hopes will hinge on how well the offense can rise to the occasion - and whether the defense can find new ways to generate pressure without its biggest star.