MarShawn Lloyd knows exactly what kind of spotlight is coming his way, and he’s not backing away from it.
With Josh Jacobs unavailable to open the season after the NFL placed the star running back on the Commissioner's exempt list because of his offseason run-in with the law, the Packers are left to lean on Lloyd in Matt LaFleur’s offense. That puts a lot on a player whose NFL résumé is still almost empty and whose injury history has made availability a real question.
Still, Lloyd sounded ready when he spoke after practice.
“I play ball. That’s it.
I’m just ready to play ball,” Lloyd said after practice (h/t Bill Huber). “I’m looking for any opportunity.
I haven’t played in two years, so anything is good for me.”
He doubled down on that message, making it clear he wants whatever workload the Packers give him.
“I’m ready to play as much as they want me to play,” he added. “I’m excited. It’s a dream come true playing for the Packers so, however much carries I get, however much they put me in the game, I’m ready to go.”
The problem is that optimism doesn’t erase the reality around him. Lloyd has only seven carries in his NFL career, and he has spent most of his time battling injuries. He has looked quicker and healthier in training camp, but that still doesn’t guarantee he’ll stay on the field once the games count.
Green Bay has long viewed him as a big-play complement, the kind of back who can give the offense a burst after a more physical runner has already taken its toll. That role made sense next to Jacobs. It looks a lot different if Lloyd is suddenly being asked to carry the load.
The Packers have always believed in his explosiveness and craftiness, but that belief comes with risk. If Jacobs is out for an extended stretch, the team may need more than just a possible addition like Kaleb Johnson.
No one has questioned Lloyd’s effort or toughness. The concern is simpler than that: he hasn’t been on the field enough to make anyone comfortable handing him the keys.
If the injuries really are behind him, the Packers might finally get the player they’ve been waiting for. Until then, this is a real issue for LaFleur and company.
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Sturdivant is not being asked to step in as a primary target, but his size and speed give the Packers another different look in the passing game. The expectation is that he can help stretch the field and work the sidelines, the kind of role that can matter even without a heavy target share, especially if Green Bay keeps looking for depth behind its established receivers. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Pass Rush Gamble Will Get An Early Reality Check
With Micah Parsons recovering, the Packers are asking a lot from a pass rush built around youth, opportunity and projection. Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell are expected to be front and center early, and Green Bays first three weeks of the 2026 season should offer a cleaner look at how ready that group really is when the pressure starts to build.
The schedule is soft enough to give the Packers some breathing room, but it also means the evaluation could come quickly if the edge rush does not show up as hoped. If Van Ness and Sorrell struggle to make the kind of impact Green Bay wants, the front office may not wait long before exploring veteran help, with names like Josh Sweat or Maxx Crosby looming as possible fixes. [Read more 🡒]