Although the Green Bay Packers came out of the NFL Draft with a promising haul, a handful of questions remain unanswered. One of them is who'll be RB2 behind Josh Jacobs next season after letting Emanuel Wilson leave in free agency. After all, they didn't invest a single pick in the position.
Sure, general manager Brian Gutekunst brought Chris Brooks back on a two-year deal, but he's never had more than 30 carries in a season during his three-year career. That leaves MarShawn Lloyd as Green Bay's other option.
Lloyd has missed all but one game during his stint in Titletown, so he doesn't truly inspire much confidence. Having said that, the Packers may be higher on him than they're letting on.
The Packers want to see MarShawn Lloyd succeed
Team reporter Wes Hodkiewicz answered questions on a mailbag and stated that the Green Bay brass wants to see Lloyd flourish, pointing out that he hadn't seen a player deal with as much adversity as him before. Here's what he said:
"Everyone in this building wants to see MarShawn Lloyd succeed, both the player and the person. This snake bite he is working on to overcome is unlike anything I've ever seen," Hodkieweicz wrote on the team's official website. "Yet, Lloyd has never gotten testy with the media. He has answered all the questions and done all the rehab in hopes of getting his NFL career off the ground."
All things considered, that's some pretty high praise. Leaving aside that Hodkiewicz is stating his own opinion when he says that he's never seen anyone as snakebitten as Lloyd, he's making it clear that everyone in the Packers building wants to see him thrive.
And if he can avoid the injury bug, the former USC Trojan will get a chance. But that's the thing, he's yet to show he can stay healthy. Green Bay has been patient with Lloyd, but they cannot wait for him forever.
You can be the most talented player in the world, but if you cannot suit up and contribute on game day, it's all moot. As the saying goes, availability is the best ability, and Lloyd hasn't had much the past two years.
The Packers are betting on MarShawn Lloyd to stay healthy
Just because Lloyd has battled injuries in years one and two, it doesn't mean he won't play a significant role this season. If he's available, he could turn out to be a dependable sidekick to Jacobs and validate the team's decision to move on from Wilson.
But if Lloyd misses time again, aside from running the risk of getting his walking papers, the Packers could then turn to an unsigned veteran such as Austin Ekeler or Joe Mixon. Both players have also dealt with injuries throughout their careers and are past their prime.
However, Ekeler or Mixon could turn out to be serviceable backups at this stage of their career. In fact, it's possible that the Packers haven't added another running back because they first want to see what Lloyd and Brooks bring to the table.
It will now be up to Lloyd to prove that his injuries are in the rearview mirror and make the most of what could turn out to be his last chance for the Packers.
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