The Green Bay Packers are in an interesting spot with their running back group. Josh Jacobs was the heart and soul of the offense last year, and he should only continue to improve heading into Year 2 with the Green and Gold. Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks bring reliable experience within Matt LaFleur’s system, while MarShawn Lloyd offers intriguing potential, though injuries have hindered him early in his career.
The Packers have kept four running backs on their final roster just once in the past five seasons, so it’s reasonable to expect they’ll stick with three again. Still, it appears they might have something in a potential fifth member of their running back corps: Amar Johnson.
Johnson played four seasons for South Dakota State and earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first-team honors in 2023 and 2024. Still, he went undrafted in 2025, and Green Bay signed him as a free agent.
“I just felt the love from them, really ever since my pro day,” Johnson told Sports Illustrated. “I know they reached out to a lot of my coaches, even my high school coach, during the pre-draft process, and trying to get to know me that way. When my pro day came and I talked to Brett (Thiesen), one of the scouts, he was very high on me and saying how much he would love to have me at the Packers.”
Johnson scored Green Bay’s lone touchdown in their 30-10 loss to the New York Jets in Week 1 of the preseason. Overall, he rushed for 67 yards on seven attempts and posted the league’s third-highest rushing grade among qualified running backs.
“It was like a dream for me – a dream come true,” Johnson said. “Just making a guy miss, race to the pylon, and Lambeau Leap. The wall’s a lot higher than I thought it is. It was great.”
Meanwhile, Matt LaFleur shared some praise for the rookie at the podium following the game.
“I thought it was a good showing for him,” LaFleur said. “I thought he ran hard and, obviously, flashed some playmaking ability, so he’ll probably earn some more opportunities next week.”
Johnson led Green Bay in rushing attempts against New York and is likely to continue seeing playing time throughout the rest of the preseason. The Packers are naturally going to rest Josh Jacobs for the regular season, while also being cautious with Lloyd as he recovers from an abductor injury. Johnson should have an opportunity to share snaps with Wilson, Brooks, and Israel Abanikanda against the Indianapolis Colts and the Seattle Seahawks.
Johnson has long odds to make the 53-man roster. Jacobs is arguably the best player on Green Bay’s offense. Meanwhile, there’s no way the Packers would move on from Lloyd just one year after spending a third-round pick on him. That leaves a four-man race between Johnson, Brooks, Wilson, and Abanikanda for the third-string running back spot.
Wilson and Brooks both have the advantage of at least one season of experience within LaFleur’s offense. Still, Johnson’s skill set is more similar to Wilson’s, meaning he’ll need to win the battle directly against him. Furthermore, one of the traits that kept Brooks on the 53-man roster last year was his ability as a pass blocker, so Johnson will have to improve in that area if he wants a real shot at making the team.
There are still eight quarters of preseason left for Johnson to show Green Bay why he deserves a spot on the 53-man roster. With that said, he fits the mold of the developmental practice squad running back type that Brian Gutekunst values. So, while it might be tough for him to make the team initially, there’s reason to believe he could suit up later in the season.
