With Emanuel Wilson out of the picture, there’s a void at the backup running spot in Green Bay. In an ideal world, MarShawn Lloyd would stay healthy in 2026 and prove why he was a third-round pick only two years ago. But nothing about Lloyd’s career has been ideal. Between that and the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing Josh Jacobs legal situation, the Packers may call upon Chris Brooks to have a bigger role in the offense — even if they would rather not be the case.
Chris Brooks has been a Swiss Army knife for the Packers during his two years in Green Bay. He’s thrived as more of a pass-blocking back and a special teams contributor. Brooks played 55% of the total snaps on teams last year.
He’s never had more than 36 rushing attempts in any of his three seasons, and most of the base data wouldn’t suggest a candidate for a No. 2 running back. But in the final regular-season contest of last season, in something of a throwaway game against the Minnesota Vikings, Brooks toted the ball 13 times for 61.
The Vikings were already eliminated from playoff contention by that point. Still, they were playing for pride, and Brooks’ performance was the first real indication that he might be able to capably spell a bell-cow back, logging more significant snaps with the offense.
While Brooks doesn’t have gaudy numbers in three years, he’s at least always been available. That hasn’t been the case with Lloyd.
Lloyd is Green Bay’s great mystery. Myriad health issues, most of them totally unrelated, have kept him off the field for almost the entirety of his two years with Green Bay. And yet his third-round draft status, and perhaps the impulse to steer into the sunk-cost fallacy, compel the coaching staff to maintain optimism that surely Lloyd’s injury luck must improve soon. Right?
Green Bay’s preference would be for Lloyd to finally prove his worth. Brooks was merely a practice squad addition in 2024 who climbed the ladder to earn a larger role on the active roster and, most recently, a two-year deal.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has always raved about Brooks and did so again in May. However, LaFleur’s comments typically credit Brooks with doing multiple things for the team rather than suggesting he could start carrying the rock more in place of the departed Wilson.
Chris is one of those guys, whether it’s offensively or wherever we need him on special teams. He fills a lot of roles for us. You know, we use him sometimes more along the lines of a tight end and doing some cross sifting and things of that nature. I just, what I love about Chris is the mentality. He’s not afraid to work. He comes in every day with a great attitude and he’s always giving his best effort.
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for someone the head coach might need to consider as a potential No. 2 back.
The Packers are making one more big bet that Lloyd can stay healthy. And — stop me if you’ve heard this one before — Lloyd sounded optimistic as ever during the recent minicamp.
That’s never been a doubt. I know I’m meant to be here. I know the team believes in me, and I believe in myself a lot. It’ll be fun. It’ll be fun. There’s a lot of people that still believe in me, as well. I know when my time comes and it’s time to go, I’ll show a lot of people why the Packers drafted me almost three years ago now. It’s been a long time coming, but we’re coming, though.
The Packers won’t play favorites — whoever can best get the job done will be the guy — but there’s an obvious need to give Lloyd one more chance to make a first impression and see what he can do if he’s healthy. But if Brooks clearly outperforms Lloyd, Green Bay won’t ignore that either. And of course, when you write anything about Lloyd’s health and availability, you must festoon it with caveats.
Green Bay would almost certainly rather Chris Brooks maintain his role as a No. 3 option who mostly contributes on special teams. There’s so much uncertainty surrounding the two guys ahead of him on the roster that he may well wind up with a heavier workload on the offense, and not just because the team is resting the other starters. But it won’t be their Plan A.
