A litany of injuries have kept Green Bay Packers rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd sidelined for most of the 2024 NFL season. There’s a chance Lloyd will work his way back, though, giving the Packers offense a boost for the stretch run.
Here’s the latest on the Green Bay rookie’s injury situation and how the team has dealt with his absence.
What Is MarShawn Lloyd’s Injury?
Lloyd has been no stranger to the Green Bay injury report this season. He dealt with myriad injuries over the summer, played his only career game to date in Week 2, and was then placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury after Week 2.
Now, it’s appendicitis that’s keeping the promising rookie sidelined.
Lloyd woke up on the morning of Nov. 2 with the illness. He didn’t practice during the week and has seen his expected return to play timeline delayed as a result.
When Will Lloyd Return From Injury?
Green Bay had already opened Lloyd’s 21-day practice window following his ankle injury and subsequent stint on injured reserve, complicating the situation because appendicitis requires multiple weeks of recovery.
After consulting with the league, the Packers placed him on the non-football injury/illness (NFI) list to allow him to recover from appendicitis and still play this season. Lloyd’s year would have ended if the Packers simply left him on IR without activating him after the end of his practice window.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
Lloyd must miss at least four games and will be out through Week 15. The Packers close the season with games against the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears.
The Packers hold a 9-3 record, having won seven of their last eight games. Two of their three losses came against teams ahead of them in the division standings. Green Bay lost at home to both Minnesota (Week 4) and Detroit (Week 9), placing them in third place in the NFC North. Despite this, they are still relative locks for the playoffs and harbor an outside chance at the top seed in the NFC.
How Has Lloyd’s Absence Impacted the Packers?
Lloyd’s injury troubles have been an opportunity for 2023 undrafted free agent Emanuel Wilson. While free agent signing Josh Jacobs has carried most of the load, Wilson has been a valuable change-of-pace back and a reliable option for times when Jacobs needs a respite.
Wilson has 332 rushing yards and one touchdown on 68 carries this season, and he’s also added another touchdown and 46 yards on nine catches.
Second-year undrafted pro Chris Brooks has also worked his way into the mix recently. Brooks had only seven carries over the first seven weeks of the season but has since carved out a small change-of-pace role. For the season, Brooks has 92 rush yards on 20 carries and nine catches for 58 yards.
Given Jacobs’ presence as the team’s bell cow and a pair of effective passing-down backs in Wilson and Brooks, it’s unlikely Lloyd will figure much into the plans even when he’s healthy. His professional career will most likely begin in earnest if he has a healthy 2025 offseason program to work his way into the mix next season.