Exactly one year ago today, I published an article for PackersTalk.com titled "Does Emanuel Wilson Have a Shot at the Final Roster?" After a few weeks of Training Camp practices and a preseason match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals in which he ran for 111 yards on six carries and scored two touchdowns, Wilson was instantly a favorite of mine to make the final 53. There were still two preseason games left and a few more camp practices, but I was convinced that a roster spot was his to lose. And come roster cuts day, it was official, Emanuel Wilson had made the Packers' final roster. 

So, fast forward to the 2024 Training Camp, and Wilson should have a good chance of making the final 53 again given his experience right? Not so fast. In 2023, Wilson only saw action in 7 of the first 10 games of the season where he was active. During this time, he only amassed 14 carries for 85 yards, including a 31-yard carry and four catches for 23 yards. In week 11, Wilson suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him until the playoffs. When he returned in the playoffs he saw 13 touches for 47 yards combined in the two match-ups. Unfortunately, Emanuel Wilson never quite got his shot to solidify his spot on the roster truly. As a result, you could say he's now on the outside looking in. After the Packers parted ways with Aaron Jones, signed Josh Jacobs, resigned AJ Dillon, and drafted Marshawn Lloyd, you could say Emanuel Wilson has been shuffled back to the RB4 spot on the depth chart. In today's NFL, that likely means you're on the practice squad if you're even still collecting a paycheck. 

Entering 2024, the heat was definitely on the heels of Emanuel Wilson, but like he did last year, he's already made a big impression.  He's had a few good runs widening eyes in camp practices and in the preseason matchup with the Cleveland Browns, he had 13 rushes for 67 yards and a touchdown. On the drive that put the Packers up 14-3, Wilson rushed seven times for 36 yards capping it off with a 5-yard touchdown run. Perhaps his most impressive rush of the night came in the third quarter when after breaking a tackle, Wilson was able to bounce out to the left and gain 23 yards. This was the famous play that saw rookie Quarterback Michael Pratt make a block to help Wilson gain a few extra yards. Wilson when asked about the play said Pratt yelled to him to go outside and that's when Pratt made the block with Wilson cutting further out to the sidelines.

Rookie Marshawn Lloyd has also looked very good in practice, but he previously missed some time due to injury and now is out again with a hamstring injury. This opens the door wide for Emanuel Wilson to make the most of his opportunities and show everyone why instead of being RB3 or RB4, he should maybe even be RB2 behind Josh Jacobs. 

What Will it Take to Make it?

If you were to ask me, what is the most beneficial attribute a running back can have? I would tell you, vision. That's not from how far away can the running back read a street sign, but how quickly can they see their running lanes. Of course, when a play is drawn up, it may show that the design is for a hole to be created between the right guard and the right tackle for the running back to run through. But, a defense may take that hole away quickly. A running back needs to be able to recognize right away that that running lane is not available and pick a new one. Great vision allows the running back to see the open lane before he gets swallowed up by the defense so that he can make his adjustment and hit that opening the best he can. Emanuel Wilson so far has displayed outstanding vision recognizing the change as he takes the hand-off so he can hit the next lane immediately. 

The next most beneficial attribute is quickness. This isn't just for getting away in a sprint from a defender. It's also for having the ability to change your path on a dime as soon as you notice an open lane. When you watch a running back cut back before they even reach the line of scrimmage, that's using vision and quickness to react to the change in running lanes. Any running back can take a hand-off and just hit the line of scrimmage. It takes a good running back to see the opening and move quickly to hit it before anyone else can adjust. 

With Lloyd out at the moment, Emanuel Wilson's top competition is likely AJ Dillon. Wilson already has outperformed Dillon on the field in one game, but the stat line means absolutely nothing to some coaches when evaluating talent. Something AJ Dillon may have a leg up on Emanuel Wilson for is his pass blocking and skill in picking up blitzes. Dillon isn't quite the smash-mouth carrier we all hoped he'd be, he's struggled at times to get those extra yards while Wilson has had no problem with contact and getting extra yards. 

If Emanuel Wilson can learn to pass block and pick up a blitz quickly, it may not matter what Marshawn Lloyd's status is, Emanuel Wilson will be on the 53-man roster. I believe a player with the raw potential Wilson displays should have no problem making the team and hopefully, he will become a difference-maker in the 2024 season.