Packers turn to MarShawn Lloyd as lead back after Jacobs placed on exempt list
Green Bay's starting running back will likely be MarShawn Lloyd, who has played only one game in two seasons, after Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner exempt list and Emanuel Wilson signed with Seattle. Lloyd has stayed healthy this summer and the team expresses confidence, but his injury history remains a concern. The Packers open the season against Minnesota in two weeks.
Lloyd's professional career has been defined by a string of ailments—hamstring, hip, ankle, groin, and calf injuries, plus an appendicitis episode—that have held him to seven career touches since being drafted in 2024. Despite that history, he has participated in every practice this summer and spent the offseason addressing his physical vulnerabilities, earning cautious optimism from running backs coach Ben Sirmans.
His college workload was modest, averaging roughly 10 carries per game at USC, and he acknowledged he has not shouldered a heavy rushing load since high school. The Packers added Kaleb Johnson via trade from Pittsburgh as insurance, while Chris Brooks offers pass-protection reliability but is viewed as a third-string option rather than a feature back.
This development could reshape the Packers' season outlook, as a team with playoff aspirations now depends on an unproven back with a significant injury history. Fantasy football managers who drafted Jacobs face immediate uncertainty, while the broader NFL audience may see this as a test of how teams handle sudden roster disruption. The situation also highlights the league's commissioner exempt list process, which could influence how fans perceive player discipline and team preparedness.