Cory's Corner: The MarShawn Lloyd Problem
The Packers drafted Lloyd to be a speedy, shifty and solid change of pace back. After a rash of injuries, is it worth it to hold on to him?
The NFL has always been a league that moves on quickly, but nowhere is that reality more visible than at running back. The arrival of MarShawn Lloyd to the Green Bay Packers is less about one rookie’s potential and more about what he represents: the continuation of a quiet but undeniable shift toward the disposable running back. Drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft with clear explosiveness, Lloyd entered the league with opportunity in front of him—and a clock already ticking. That clock has only sped up. A preseason hamstring pull in 2024 was followed by a partial ankle sprain that September. Then came a groin injury in July 2025, another hamstring issue in August, and a calf injury in December while rehabbing. The result is stark: one career game played, and a growing reminder of how fragile a running back’s window can be. In a league that increasingly values immediate return, availability isn’t just part of the job—it is the job.
“I liked his speed,” said Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich after Lloyd was drafted. “I liked his speed a lot. He had some good runs where you saw his burst. He's got good vision, so I'm really excited about that out of the backfield.”
That urgency is driven by simple math. The prime years for most running backs now align almost perfectly with their rookie contracts, making long-term investments feel unnecessary, even reckless. The average shelf life of an NFL running back is 2.5 years-3.3 years. Teams have learned they can draft fresh legs every few years at a fraction of the cost, avoiding the financial and physical decline that often comes with second contracts. Lloyd’s situation underscores that reality in the harshest way. It’s not just that he hasn’t produced yet — it’s that he hasn’t been able to get on the field long enough to try. Around the league, the pattern repeats itself: injured or inconsistent backs are quickly replaced, committees take over, and depth charts reset with younger, healthier options. Even in Green Bay, where patience has traditionally defined roster building, the margin for waiting at this position is thin. If Lloyd can’t stay available, the Packers — and any team in their position — have every incentive to simply move on to the next option.
Lloyd fits neatly into this evolving blueprint, even as he struggles to break into it. He still offers the same big-play ability that made him an intriguing pick, the kind of explosiveness that can complement a young quarterback like Jordan Love. But the modern evaluation is unforgiving. Talent matters, but durability matters more, and timing matters most. If he finds a way to stay healthy, he can still carve out a role in a young offense. If not, his story becomes one the league has seen too often — promise overtaken by circumstance, potential replaced by the next name on the depth chart.
Lloyd’s career, still in its earliest stages, already illustrates the challenge. In today’s NFL, the question isn’t just whether a running back is good enough. It’s whether he can be available long enough to matter before the league moves on without him.
The question is, how long are the Packers willing to wait?
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (47)
Guam
March 24, 2026 at 07:14 am
Given the vacancy created when the Packers didn't resign Wilson, Lloyd likely has one more year to prove he is worth retaining. If he can't get on the field this season, he will be gone in 2027. I still have hopes for Lloyd. He was a talented RB in college. But he needs to be available or he is useless.
ricky
March 24, 2026 at 10:50 am
As the old saying goes, "The most important ability is availability."
jannesbjornson
March 24, 2026 at 04:04 pm
Draft another RB by round three, move on.
stockholder
March 24, 2026 at 07:19 am
Wait- ? They've waited too long now.
Move on.
jannesbjornson
March 24, 2026 at 04:04 pm
He picked the wrong back to begin with...
Savage57
March 24, 2026 at 07:28 am
The Packers are $2.8M into Lloyd thus far.
Not knowing the details of his contract and money due him for the coming season, you'd still have to assume his leash is pretty short for 2026.
The whole throwing good money after bad deal.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 07:58 am
He is due 1.5 million in 2026 and 1.8 mil in 2027. If they keep him this year which I expect and release him next year he has only 240 k cap hit.
PeteK
March 24, 2026 at 08:33 am
Yes, they only owe him 450 which is half of his signing bonus/ GTD, Pack would save 1.3 mill with a post 6/1 release.
golfpacker61
March 24, 2026 at 09:14 am
That's this years savings Pete?
PeteK
March 24, 2026 at 10:42 am
Yes
bassrock
March 24, 2026 at 02:07 pm
So in this day in age, it's a little pocket change to keep him.
dobber
March 24, 2026 at 07:34 am
"Teams have learned they can draft fresh legs every few years at a fraction of the cost,"
At this stage, on his rookie deal, Lynch's cap hit isn't much higher than the minimum, and it doesn't cost them any more to cut him now or in August. This isn't a concern.
Put this "moving on" article out in August when we've had a chance to see if he's healthy and how he responds just before cutdowns, not in March when rosters are huge and there's room to carry players who aren't expensive and have upside (if he can get on the field). The wear and tear of contact on Lloyd isn't very much at this point so the "fresh legs" part is an iffy argument...but we don't know how much the repeated soft tissue injuries have robbed him of his burst. Let the kid play, and see what happens.
"followed by a partial ankle sprain that September"
What the hell is a partial ankle sprain?
Houndog
March 24, 2026 at 08:16 am
I agree, dobber,
at what Lynch is costing now you gotta wait and see, at least until training camp and/or final cuts if he can stay healthy 'till then. The example might be to look at what Watson gave us last season after so many injuries, no complaints there!
And yeah; Is a 'partial ankle sprain' kinda like "a little bit pregnant'?
golfpacker61
March 24, 2026 at 09:18 am
Who is Lynch?
GregC
March 24, 2026 at 09:33 am
The other Marshawn. RB for the Seahawks 2010 to 2015.
LeotisHarris
March 24, 2026 at 08:41 am
dobber, the partial ankle is connected to the full ankle just above the ankle bone and below the knee bone. They say once you sprain your partial ankle, you almost always never come back to 100%. In general.
dobber
March 24, 2026 at 09:11 am
I KNEW it!!!
greengold
March 24, 2026 at 09:49 am
BRAVO!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!
Somebody give Leotis all the cookies, please...
Oppy
March 24, 2026 at 05:01 pm
I'm not a MD, but I believe a partial ankle sprain occurs when you've botched up both of your ankles, but you just kinda like one of the injuries more than the other.
GregC
March 24, 2026 at 08:17 am
Marshawn Lloyd is an outlier in the discussion about RB careers because his injury history is so awful. (Cory did not even mention the hip injury or the appendicitis.) If he makes it through training camp and plays anywhere near his potential, he will be RB #2. Would I bet on that happening? Of course not. Assuming Chris Brooks is RB #3 again, they will need to find a viable #2 option in addition to Lloyd. If they draft an RB in the sixth round or higher, it will signal that they have very low confidence that Lloyd can stay healthy.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 08:58 am
I wish the best for Marshawn. Yes keep him until the cutdown day and if he is healthy I would have him as the #3 back unless we have a better option and then I would put him on the PS. With his injury history I would hate to start the season with him as the #2 back. Brooks is the best back to have at #2. He may not be flashy but he does everything good and he is dependable.
Packers0808
March 24, 2026 at 08:38 am
If he doesn't make it through training camp or preseason with an injury he is gone.
PhantomII
March 24, 2026 at 08:48 pm
Yep.
crayzpackfan
March 24, 2026 at 09:32 am
I know this is sad, but I don't even think of him as being on our team really. I guess when you're unavailable for two straight years, folks disappear from your mind. Hopefully he rebounds in a big way.
golfpacker61
March 24, 2026 at 09:36 am
I also think this is Marshawn's last chance in GB if he can't get on and stay on the field this year. He isn't expensive, but neither is Antonio Gibson who missed his first significant time last year. I think the Packers plan was to move on from Jacobs in year 3 or 4 and Lloyd would be the successor, so much for that plan.
At this point our options are Strong or Martinez from the practice squad, or sign a FA like Gibson or Robinson from SF, the FAs won't affect the comp picks. Didn't Wilson only get $2 million from the Chargers? Seems silly to lose him for that unless the Packers think Pierre Strong or Damien Martinez are ready for the big time. I really like Strongs skillset and he has 4.3 speed to go with it. Martinez is bigger.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 09:47 am
Wilson got 2 mil from the Seahawks.
The Packers probably offered him the same or maybe slightly more but the chance he will be able to be the starting RB for the defending SB Champions at the start of the season was probably what made him move. Why be a backup on an average team when you can start on a championship team.
Coldworld
March 24, 2026 at 10:13 am
Wilson probably knew LaFleur was wedded to Brooks. Wilson was always made to look like the odd man out only saved by Lloyds’ inability to stay healthy and Dillon being hurt before that, no matter what he did when asked. Despite his protection improving significantly, LaFleur always tried to get Brooks out there, notably late last season and not very productively. I’m sure Wilson felt he might get a better shot elsewhere but to build credit for his performances and the prospect of retention/respect from the sidelines. Just another example of how questionable coaching wisdom in the Amari Rodgers vein impacts teams.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 10:33 am
What games did you watch. Wilson had almost 100 more carries than Brooks last year. MLF was wedded to Wilson more than Brooks
Coldworld
March 24, 2026 at 10:38 am
Wilson started games, that’s why. Look instead at how they were used when Jacobs was healthy and late in the season. Sorry to burst your bubble.
If you want a different yardstick giving the same message as to whom they value, we resigned Brooks for a greater average salary over 2 years than Wilson is getting this year on a one year deal.
Coldworld
March 24, 2026 at 09:44 am
It’s not worth cutting him if he’s healthy. That would be daft. It would be no less daft to rely on him being healthy and remaining so. Keeping Brooks, presumably to keep LaFleur happy, was reasonable in one sense, but a mistake overall. Lloyd or whomever replaces him should be our 3rd down option initially, with the other RB being a Wilson-like Jacobs substitute, which Lloyd is not and nor is Brooks.
Now we need to replace Wilson and either keep 4 or find an outside the tackles back up both good enough to play in game one and yet plausibly able to be stashed on the PS if Lloyd is good to go. Seems like roster building by committee to me.
Ditch the pure protection back role, ditch the third mediocre TE. Get a true blocking TE who can protect but also lead block and help in line or even a true full back. Brooks is neither a good lead or in line option. Use the spare roster spot to improve options elsewhere, maybe we could use a specialist punt returner. These are the kind of things a good GM sees and imposes. That makes the team better (in multiple phases) and maybe the coach too.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 09:51 am
Thank you for the new word. Had to look that one up. Now I just need to remember to use it.
The key to being a 3rd down back is the pass pro. Not sure how much he has learned to protect Love. Also you would only change RBs if you are changing other personnel because that allows the defense to sub. That is why they kept Brooks. Brooks is a 3 down back to spell Jacobs.
Coldworld
March 24, 2026 at 10:10 am
Brooks is only a protection back. He’s not Wilson who could carry the team in Jacobs’ absence and he’s not a different type of threat either. He’s a very good protector, but he’s not a blocker. Hes not a TE/FB. He’s a security blanket. We should be striving to have a protector who offers more, either directly as a RB or as a lead or in line blocker. Brooks eats a roster space unnecessarily without offering enough to justify it just by bringing a good protector. Brooks could probably be stashed on the PS as insurance actually.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 10:29 am
Chris Brooks has not been given the opportunity to carry the team. To me Brooks is stronger and will fight more for extra yards than Wilson. He can catch the ball and he can block like a FB. The other plus is he is a team first player.
Now I am not saying Wilson is not a team player and yes I do not blame Wilson for looking for greener pastures. I am happy to see Brooks might get a chance to show us what he has.
greengold
March 24, 2026 at 09:46 am
How is this guy still here?
And, if he hasn't learned how to pass protect by year 3, jettison him into the sun.
Cheezehead72
March 24, 2026 at 09:54 am
They need someone to make sure the water in the tub is the right temperature. Yes that is mean but I wanted to make a joke.
Turophile
March 24, 2026 at 09:59 am
The problem will sort itself out this year. A third injury for any significant length of time means he will be gone. If he stays relatively healthy and plays well, he has a chance to stay - it's not like he has put any mileage on his tyres the last two years.
WD
March 24, 2026 at 11:23 am
A number of people were saying the same thing about Watson not so long ago.. It is way-way to premature to make any decision on him. He will be in training camp and his play will speak for itself. I'm hoping he has made a full recovery and will be a great asset to what I consider a rather average running game as evidenced by last year. We had the worst running game in our division.
Injuries are no excuse.
A dynamic duo of Jacobs and Lloyd healthy is all this teams needs
Either way we need to hope a good RB falls in the draft and we can get one.
GregC
March 24, 2026 at 11:43 am
Watson is the picture of health compared to Lloyd. At any rate, I think most people here agree that Lloyd should be given a chance to win the #2 RB job this year. He could be really exciting if he stays healthy. Still, it won't matter much who is carrying the ball if the OL can't block any better than it did last year.
Coldworld
March 24, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Well, one way to improve the run game aside from blocking is to have a true outside the tackles threat. That’s not to disagree with the need to improve dramatically (but at least we start with settled positions for our preferred line this year, surely).
We haven’t had an outside threat option since Jones left (though Jones often just made holes too). Lloyd, on paper, is that back and potentially also a pass outlet similar to what Jones had been. We need to find on to develop to protect against the risk of not having one this year as well.
GregC
March 24, 2026 at 12:51 pm
An outside threat could help, but the Packers managed 4.8 yards per carry in 2024 without having much of an outside threat. In 2025 they went down to 4.1 YPC with the same RBs. I know Josh Jacobs was banged up much of the time, but I think a decline in run blocking was the main reason. Our RBs were running into walls out there.
Turophile
March 24, 2026 at 12:37 pm
The problem that was indeed down to the O line, much more than the being down to the RB.
Oppy
March 24, 2026 at 04:57 pm
I can't possibly be the only long time reader here at CHTV who read this article and by the end of the very first paragraph thought to myself, "Welp, looks like Cory is officially plugged in to the AI revolution now."
Matt
March 24, 2026 at 06:23 pm
This whole speculation comes down to obvious assumptions.
1. If he is not ready for this preseason it is pointless to wait. It's nice and it sometimes pays off big when you wait for a player but there is a thin border between being patient and naive. At some point you need to decide like they did with Bakhtiari. It would be great to have him, but it turned out to be wishful thinking.
2. If he could be finally healthy soon, I don't get why some fans would like to see him go. It's like a free roster boost. Considering our DL, OL and CB rooms I would be glad we are not forced to draft a running back.
lou
March 24, 2026 at 06:36 pm
Agree that signing Wilson would have been a solid insurance policy. Yes Brooks is reliable for a few carries but if Jacobs goes down someone needs to carry the load like Wilson has done for two season and thinking Loyd based on his past history may be the guy is a recipe for disaster. There is talk now that Wilson may have refused offers to stay because of the opportunity in Seattle, their top back is coming off an ACL injury and their backup who was the Super Bowl MVP left via free agency and he is betting on himself. What a story that would be for Wilson and for Green Bay native John Schneider.
Ferrari-Driver
March 25, 2026 at 07:46 am
I recall Marshawn Lloyd saying "I am the best running back in this draft". While I hope that would be true, we have seen nothing thus far that indicates his opinion of himself is justified.
CanPackFan
March 25, 2026 at 01:43 pm
I am concerned with the lack of credible depth in this receiving room. Wilson was an ok RB2 to Jacob's. But Jacob's just seems to have taken a lot of beating lately especially with last year's Oline.
I just don't feel that relying on Lloyd as RB2 is solid enough if this team is to truly challenge this season. And the draft? Well, all college RBs tend to get over hyped. I'd like to see a proven vet as RB2 who still has gas left in the tank and be RB1 if Jacob's gets the injury bug.
Packerlifer
March 25, 2026 at 03:30 pm
Memories....and hopes.https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Marshawn+Loyd+USC+h...
Just don't cut him prematurely and have him go reunite with Caleb Williams and become a stud.