The Green Bay Packers open training camp on Wednesday, July 23, marking the unofficial start of the 2025 season for Matt LaFleur’s team. After back-to-back playoff appearances but disappointing playoff failures, the Packers are hoping to take another step forward in 2025. The process begins in full on July 23.
Packers Wire will go position by position previewing the roster, highlighting battles to watch, the things that actually matter and young players to monitor this summer.
Here is our training camp preview of the running back position:
On the roster (6)
Most important: Can Josh Jacobs build on impressive first season?
The Packers leaned heavily on Jacobs in 2024, giving him over 350 total touches across 18 games, including the playoffs. And he was forced to do a lot of heavy lifting behind an inconsistent run-blocking offensive line. Jacobs stayed mostly healthy, and he did a terrific job of both breaking tackles and creating yards after first contact, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to match his production output in 2025. While still only 27 years old, Jacobs is now approaching 2,000 total touches at the NFL level and coming off a season of heavy workload. however, the Packers invested heavily in the offensive line, and Jacobs is hoping he can create more explosive runs with better tackle-breaking at the second level. Ideally, Jacobs would become a more efficient runner (increasing average of 4.4 yards per carry in 2024) while the Packers become more consistent in the passing game, lessening the load week to week on Jacobs and the run game. — Zach Kruse
What to watch: Ball security, RB2
One of the biggest coaching points to monitor this summer is ball security. Josh Jacobs fumbled a career-high four times in 2024—his lone blemish on an incredible season. I’m also interested in the vision for MarShawn Lloyd. Emanuel Wilson did an admirable job in the RB2 role last season, but the team invested a third-round pick in Lloyd. After missing all but one game as a rookie, the priority for Lloyd is staying healthy. The upside is there as he’s much more creative with the ball in his hands than Wilson. Also, how much can the coaching staff put on Lloyd’s plate? Can he add value as a receiver and hold up consistently in pass protection? These are questions he needs to answer. — Brandon Carwile
One thing that actually matters: Can MarShawn Lloyd hit the ground running?
After a bizarre rookie season which included four separate injuries: hip, hamstring, ankle and appendix (!), with the first two of those ailments costing him time in training camp, Lloyd appears to be good to go this summer. This should give him a greater opportunity to have a real impact in his sophomore season. Lloyd is a more explosive runner than Jacobs, and this element would be a welcome addition to a Green Bay backfield which was efficient, but short on home runs in 2024. The second-year back could raise the ceiling of the Packers’ rushing attack in a significant way, but he needs to get off to a better, or just a less unlucky start than he did at this time last year. Keep an eye out for reports on how sharp he is looking in camp. — Mark Oldacres
Young player to watch: Amar Johnson
The Packers are likely going to keep four running backs on the roster, maybe that number could dwindle to three depending on how the rest of the roster shakes out. Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Emmanuel Wilson are all roster locks, unless Wilson’s performance craters during training camp and the preseason.
If the Packers opt to keep four running backs that final spot will likely come down to Chris Brooks and Amar Johnson, the undrafted free agent from South Dakota State University. It will take a stellar wire-to-wire performance from Johnson to unseat Brooks for the final spot, but the former Jackrabbit has the tools to make it happen. The Missouri native can scoot and create chunk plays with his explosiveness. During his final season in Brookins, Johnson posted 38 runs of 10-plus yards. He has good vision and runs with patience, waiting for his blocks to develop. He’s shifty and able to string together moves to force missed tackles. This past season he forced 49 missed tackles.
Johnson is alert in pass protection and works hard to protect the integrity of the pocket. He finished his career with 50 receptions for 449 yards and one touchdown. Johnson’s real shot to separate himself in the running back room is his ability as a kick returner. During his time in Brookings, he averaged 21.0 yards per kick return. He was also a standout kick returner during his prep school days at Chaminade College Prep.
Johnson is no stranger to playing a crowded running back room. During his time in Brookings, he played behind Pierre Strong Jr and Isaiah Davis. He’ll face an uphill climb to crack Green Bay’s running back rotation. However, he’s the type of player who will make the most of his opportunities. Given his well-rounded skill set, he may bust down the door and earn a spot on the final 53. — Brennen Rupp
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers training camp preview: Year 2 for Josh Jacobs, big RB2 battle
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Brandon Carwile, Brennen Rupp and Mark Oldacres, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
