Green Bay Packers running back Marshawn Lloyd (32) scores a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL preseason football game on Aug. 21.
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MarShawn Lloyd never averaged more than 12.3 carries per game during his three college seasons.
Lloyd never ran for more than 820 yards in a season as a collegian.
It might not be long, though, before the Green Bay Packers ask Lloyd to be their bellcow.
Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs was charged with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property on Thursday related to his arrest on May 26.
In addition to the two misdemeanor charges, Jacobs could face discipline under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy. The NFL could suspend Jacobs before the 2026 season begins, or wait until the legal process is finished.
If Jacobs is suspended before the Packers’ Week 1 game at Minnesota, Lloyd will likely be their featured back.
Could he handle it?
“Honestly, I’m a baller. I’m a baller,” Lloyd said Wednesday. “Honestly, you know, you just gotta be ready whenever your number’s called. I feel like the way my body’s feeling, it’s football. You know, there’s games I had in college that where I had a lot of carries. It’s just football. I mean, you gotta be ready for whatever.”
Lloyd was a bit player at South Carolina during his freshman season in 2021, then he averaged a team-high 12.3 carries per game in 2022, when he led the Gamecocks with 573 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Lloyd transferred to USC for his junior season in 2023 and split time with Austin Jones, who later was in the Washington Commanders camp.
While Lloyd was certainly the more dynamic back, USC’s coaches also found he was more effective with a lighter workload. Lloyd finished the 2023 season averaging 10.5 carries per game, but averaged 7.1 yards a rush, led the Trojans in rushing yards (820) and was second in rushing touchdowns (nine).
Lloyd ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the 2024 NFL Combine, then the Packers invested a third round draft pick on him. To date, Lloyd’s first two NFL seasons have been a nightmare.
Lloyd played just one game and 10 snaps his rookie season due to hamstring and ankle injuries. He also suffered an emergency appendectomy that season.
In 2025, Lloyd never got started, spending the entire season on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury.
Lloyd spent much of this offseason with Dr. John Meyer of the Meyer Institute of Sport in El Segundo, Calif. Meyer and his staff determined Lloyd was overcompensating while training his lower body.
So far, the results have been encouraging as Lloyd had his most productive training camp, and more importantly, came through it healthy.
“I feel great,” Lloyd said after Green Bay’s final training camp practice of the summer. “I feel like myself. Really happy.”
Lloyd is diminutive, standing just 5-foot-8 ½, but he is thick. He arrived in Green Bay 2 ½ years ago weighing 220 pounds, and is currently 210 with roughly 10% body fat.
“I’ve always liked to range from like 216 to around that 220 area,” Lloyd said. “I’m a little lighter now.
“I don’t want to get too lean because you got to take some hits. Some fat is good, so I like to stay that way. But yeah, you gotta keep eating the right things and protect yourself as much as you can.”
If the NFL does suspend Jacobs, the Packers will have to determine what kind of workload Lloyd can handle.
Chris Brooks has averaged just 27.3 carries per season and has been used primarily on third downs as a pass protector. Pierre Strong, a fourth round pick by New England in 2022, could share time with Lloyd, but he’s also far from a lock to make the 53-man roster.
Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst typically keeps three running backs on his final 53. Gutekunst was asked Wednesday if the uncertainty surrounding Jacobs could lead to keeping an extra running back.
“We could,” Gutekunst said. “You’re always usually going to keep three or four running backs, and I think we have enough to do that. But again it comes down to choices and trying to figure that out.”
The Packers will be trying to figure out what to do with their messy backfield situation in the days ahead. Whatever is asked of him, Lloyd says he’s ready.
“Hey, I haven’t played in a minute, so I’m just excited to be out there,” Lloyd said. “So I think whatever they come up with I’m good with.”
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