MarShawn Lloyd is heading into his third season with the Green Bay Packers, and the reality is that we still don’t really know what kind of player he can be because he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. This is perhaps the prototype of a make-or-break year for Lloyd if he wants a real chance to still be on the roster in 2027.
Lloyd has dealt with one setback after another. What was supposed to be an opportunity to carve out a role in Green Bay’s backfield has instead turned into two seasons constantly interrupted by injuries. Because of that, the team still has not had a real chance to evaluate what he can consistently bring to the offense.
His rookie season in 2024 was especially frustrating. MarShawn Lloyd battled multiple soft-tissue injuries throughout the year, including repeated hamstring issues that lingered for months. He also dealt with a hip injury during training camp. That ankle sprain sidelined him for several games, and he later missed even more time because of appendicitis combined with another hamstring setback. Every time it looked like he could build momentum, another injury seemed to get in the way.
Unfortunately for Lloyd, 2025 did not bring much better luck. He again missed time in training camp because of a groin injury before suffering yet another hamstring strain that kept him out for most of the season. A calf strain later added to the growing list of injuries, and another hamstring issue eventually ended his year altogether.
Now heading into Year 3, the pressure is higher than ever for Lloyd to prove he still deserves a roster spot. None of the injuries are necessarily his fault, and it has been an unfortunate situation for the player and the organization. Still, the reality is Green Bay invested a third-round pick in him, and that is a significant resource for a player who has barely been able to get on the field.
“We’re very optimistic, but we’ve all been optimistic before,” Packers running back coach Ben Sirmans said about what he has seen from Lloyd this offseason. “So we just gotta wait and see.”
That quote probably says everything about where things stand with Lloyd right now. The Packers still believe in his talent and what he can potentially bring to the offense. However, at this point, nobody inside the building is going to fully buy in until he proves he can stay on the field consistently. They have entered previous offseasons feeling encouraged by his progress, only for injuries to derail things once again.
At this point, Lloyd turning into a meaningful contributor for Green Bay would almost feel like cashing in on a long-shot bet. The odds are clearly stacked against it after everything he has dealt with physically, and everyone must temper expectations. Still, there is always that small part of you that wonders what could happen if he finally manages to stay healthy for an entire season.
The Packers are not risking much by continuing to give him an opportunity, and his upside will keep the conversation alive. Green Bay drafted Lloyd because of his athletic traits. Even after two frustrating years, those flashes of potential have not completely disappeared.
That said, if he struggles to stay on the field again in 2026, it becomes difficult to envision Green Bay keeping him on the roster in 2027. At some point, the Packers need to see production and reliability after investing a third-round pick in him. The talent may still be there, but now it is time for MarShawn Lloyd to finally put everything together and prove he can consistently contribute.
