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Forgotten Packers weapon is finally healthy to get his shot and could become a breakout piece in Green Bay's 2025 offense

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Wendell Ferreira | Last updated May 27, 2025 11:50 AM ET

Ten snaps. That's all MarShawn Lloyd could play for the Green Bay Packers in his impressively unlucky rookie season, which included a serious ankle injury, an appendicitis when he was finally getting ready to return, and a hamstring issue that lingered all season and finished his season before it had truly begun.

But you don't simply give up on a talented player after an unlucky year. Especially one perceived by serious people, like Daniel Jeremiah, as the best running back in last year's class. With Green Bay ready to kick off their organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, Lloyd is ready to have an impact after all. And there are benefits to the position he was in last year. Even though he barely played, Lloyd is not a rookie, which means he had extra time to learn the offense and adapt to life in the NFL.

"Obviously, we're very cautious. But everything is full go for him," running backs coach Ben Sirmans said last week. "I think he's in a much better spot. Mentally, he's pretty sharp in the classroom. He's moving around pretty good out there on the football field. Obviously, we've got a lot of high expectations for him because he brings a different blend to our offense just with his speed and quickness. I'm pretty pleased with him so far and looking forward to getting him out there in a real game situation."

Last year, the Packers had good results from backup running backs Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks . But if MarShawn Lloyd brings to the table what the Packers think he can, there's room for a massive offensive upgrade behind Josh Jacobs, especially because Lloyd's game complements well what the starter offers.

On The Beast from 2024, The Athletic's Dane Brugler mentioned that Lloyd "doesn't have the profile of a high-volume back, but he can spark an NFL offense with his mix of patience, burst, and promise as a pass-catcher. His tape gives me flashbacks of a thicker version of Duke Johnson when he was coming out of Miami."

And this is exactly what the Packers would want from a running back behind Jacobs.

"When he played in the Indy game, you could see his explosiveness on tape," head coach Matt LaFleur said on his podcast after the season. "He would definitely add a dynamism to that room and to that position. Anytime you can have, whether it's a tight end or a runner that can create matchup issues in the passing game, that's huge for you. He's got a lot of explosive ability."

This offseason, the Packers made sure to invest more in the offense, a process that included the first three picks of the draft. And with MarShawn Lloyd, it's time to see if a past investment can finally pay off.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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