When the Green Bay Packers moved on from Emanuel Wilson, it seemed to hint at an incoming move. They had to do something after letting their most reliable backup running back depart, right?
Turned out the answer was no. The Packers rolled the dice by making zero notable moves at running back, placing additional pressure on Chris Brooks or MarShawn Lloyd to step into the RB2 role. Josh Jacobs' off-field situation only further complicates things for the Packers.
But the Packers could get an opportunity to undo their Wilson mistake, as he is not guaranteed to make the Seattle Seahawks' 53-man roster. The Seahawks drafted Jadarian Price in the first round, but it's competition from two other running backs that puts Wilson's roster spot on "thin ice," according to Lee Vowell of 12th Man Rising.
"Price's addition could mean that former Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson, whom Seattle signed this offseason in free agency, might have a difficult time making the 53-man roster," writes Vowell. "And the problem for Wilson isn't just Price. Wilson will be battling at least two other backs for a spot on the team."
Packers should hope Emanuel Wilson doesn't make the Seahawks' roster
According to Vowell, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh both have a solid chance of making the roster ahead of Wilson. Zach Charbonnet will also return at some point later in the year, although he will miss the beginning of the season.
At this stage, Jacobs' status for the 2026 season is uncertain. Even if he plays all year, can the Packers rely on Lloyd and Brooks as the primary backups?
Lloyd has all the potential in the world, but none of that matters if he's never on the field. The third-year running back has dealt with brutal injury luck, limiting him to only one game in two seasons.
For Brooks, it's about whether he can handle a featured role. He's never done that consistently in the NFL. The veteran is a solid blocker, can catch passes, and contribute on special teams, but none of that guarantees success when asked to touch the ball 15-plus times a game.
Wilson can do that.
He turned 125 carries into 496 yards and three touchdowns last season at a healthy 4.0 yards per attempt. When the Packers needed him to play the featured role in Week 12 versus the Minnesota Vikings, Wilson carried the ball 28 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns. It's not the most efficient performance you'll ever see, but he ran hard and kept the offense in rhythm.
And crucially, Wilson found the end zone twice.
It made the Packers' decision to move on all the more surprising, made even worse when he signed with the Seahawks for next to nothing. Seattle handed him a one-year, $2.1 million deal.
That, ultimately, might help the Packers. The Seahawks didn't make a strong financial commitment to him, which would make it easier to move on if he is unable to outperform the other running backs this summer.
The Packers' decision to let Wilson walk and not replace him remains a baffling one, but if he becomes available before Week 1, they might just get away with it.
Add us as a preferred source on Google