The Green Bay Packers let running back Emanuel Wilson depart in free agency and did not replace him with a pick in the 2026 NFL draft, potential providing the first signal of the team’s remaining confidence in 2024 third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd — who has played in just one regular season game after suffering through back-to-back injury-plagued seasons to start his NFL career.
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans echoed the thought, expressing cautious optimism in where Lloyd is at physically and what he could contribute to the Packers if healthy in 2026.
“He talked about how much stronger he is just in his lower half of his body. Stronger than he’s ever been,” Sirmans said, via Packers.com. “So with all those things, it’s giving him confidence and he’s got a regimen that he does before we even go out to practice. We’re very optimistic, but we’ve all been optimistic before, so we just gotta wait and see what’s going to happen. But he feels confident, I feel confident that he’s finally gotten to that point where he can be in there and be ready to play a full season.”
The Packers appear prepared to go into training camp with Lloyd as a top backup option behind Josh Jacobs. Wilson, who produced over 1,000 total yards over the last two seasons, left for Seattle in free agency. The Packers re-signed Chris Brooks, who earned a bigger role late in the 2025 season, but without another investment made at running back, a spot on the 53-man roster alongside Jacobs and Brooks is wide open for Lloyd to win.
His talent is not an issue. Availability most certainly is.
Since joining the Packers as a third-round pick in 2024, Lloyd has suffered hip, hamstring, ankle, groin and calf injuries, including recurring hamstring issues, plus an appendix issue that required surgery. He appeared in Week 2 of the 2024 season but has not played in a regular season game since.
Lloyd has explosive athletic ability and versatility as a receiving threat out of the backfield, but none of the playmaking talent has been showcased in a real NFL setting because of injury.
Will Lloyd finally be able to shake free from the injury bug and contribute in 2026? As Sirmans said, the Packers are in wait-and-see mode.
The Packers may need him. Jacobs is now over 2,000 career touches in the NFL and coming off his own injury-plagued 2025 season. Brooks is versatile and reliable but not outstanding in any one area. Lloyd has the talent to bring home-run hitting ability to the room, with the one caveat he’s carried for two years — if he can stay healthy. His moment is approaching.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers remain confident RB MarShawn Lloyd can contribute in 2026
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
