It's always concerning when a player suffers a non-contact injury, but Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd seems to have dodged disaster.
Lloyd didn't practice on Tuesday due to a groin injury. Despite many initially believing it came from Nate Hobbs' tackle, head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst said Lloyd likely got hurt on the play before contact.
Fortunately, Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs provided an encouraging update.
"He's going to be all right, man," Jacobs said, via Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official website. "He's not about to miss that much time. I don't really know the extent of his injury, but I know it's nothing major. So, he's going to be all right."
That's the best possible outcome, although Lloyd once again can't catch a break.
Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd limited with a groin injury at training camp
Lloyd battled some of the worst luck imaginable last year, missing almost the entire season. He dealt with several different injuries, and within days of finally returning, Lloyd suffered appendicitis and missed the remainder of the season.
Lloyd had worked hard to put his injury concerns behind him this year, and until this point, he looked great at practice. Hopefully, he doesn't miss too much time and can get important practice reps before the regular season begins.
Lloyd attended practice on Tuesday and stood on the sidelines for much of it, which is another positive sign. The Packers have zero reason to rush him back, especially given his recent injury history, and should take extra care to ensure he is 100 percent before returning.
The second-year running back has impressed on the practice field and believes he can become a game-changer alongside Jacobs this season. Hopefully, this injury is just a brief setback in what promises to be a bounce-back season for the former third-round pick.
It's fitting that Jacobs delivered the encouraging injury update. He has fully embraced the mentor role with Lloyd, helping him through some of the challenging and frustrating moments the young running back has faced over the past year.
Together, they can form an outstanding 1-2 punch. Lloyd's speed and home-run potential perfectly complement Jacobs' power.
Hopefully, Lloyd won't face too long on the sidelines and can become the game-changer the Packers need.