MarShawn Lloyd has battled the worst injury luck imaginable since entering the league last year, limiting him to only one game with the Green Bay Packers.
But he is finally nearing a return when the Packers may need him the most. Head coach Matt LaFleur has spoken repeatedly about the impact Lloyd could make in this offense, and we may see him in action soon.
The Packers have activated the 21-day return window for Lloyd, edge-rusher Brenton Cox, and rookie pass-rusher Collin Oliver. All three could help this team down the stretch, but Lloyd's return is particularly notable.
MarShawn Lloyd can add another element to Packers' offense when healthy
Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson form an excellent 1-2 punch in the backfield, but they both bring similar skill sets to LaFleur's offense. They win with power and their ability to fight for additional yards after contact.
Neither has the game-changing speed Lloyd can add.
"You can't deny the explosiveness this guy has," LaFleur told The Athletic's Matt Schneidman in December 2024. "Just that explosiveness, his ability to run routes, catch balls out of the backfield, that's a little different from the rest of the guys in the group."
Lloyd continued to impress at training camp this past summer. Schneidman posted that the second-year running back "drew oohs and ahhs" from his teammates during one practice.
Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury after making an impressive 33-yard catch down the sideline in the Packers' preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts. It served as a reminder of his potential to make explosive plays not just on the ground, but also in the receiving game, but that's the last time we saw him.
Earlier this season, LaFleur revealed that the team had sent Lloyd to California to "get his body right."
Encouraging updates soon followed, with ESPN's Rob Demovsky reporting on November 13 that Lloyd had "ramped up" his rehab and was "working up a sweat off to the side" at practice.
Now, it seems the Packers are confident he is close. They have three weeks to activate him from injured reserve, or his season will be over. LaFleur may need to manage his workload and ease him into action, but there's no denying the impact he could make.
READ MORE: Micah Parsons just said what the NFL is terrified to admit about Jordan Love
It's unclear whether Lloyd has a shot to return against the Chicago Bears this Sunday, but the Packers will play the NFC North leaders again at Soldier Field two weeks later. Lloyd seemingly has a chance to play in at least one of those contests.
He likely won't start as anything beyond the RB3 in the offense, with Jacobs and Wilson the primary ball-carriers. However, his skill set complements theirs. Whereas Jacobs and Wilson can wear down defenses with power, Lloyd has the game-changing speed to make them pay.
The Packers haven't had a true home-run threat at running back since Aaron Jones' departure. Hopefully, with an emphasis on hopefully, Lloyd can become that player. Fingers crossed that his return is imminent and he can stay healthy.
Having missed so much time, it's easy to forget just how talented he is. If Lloyd gets back on the field soon and avoids any setbacks, he could make a significant impact and bring more explosive plays to the ground game.