The talk so far this offseason has been about the Packers wide receiver battle. There is no doubt that the conversation will be a critical one during the training camp. However, there is another interesting offensive skill position battle that is worth keeping an eye on. Josh Jacobs is the clear #1 back but how will the Packers depth chart shake out for the rest of the running back room and will Green Bay keep four running backs?
The Packers three running backs who will be battling for playing time and possibly a roster spot are second year RB MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson, and Chris Brooks. Brooks and Wilson were two solid complimentary options to Josh Jacobs last season. Lloyd, who was dealt a tough hand with injuries, spent most of his rookie season on the shelf so his potential is still undetermined.
Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd
The Packers drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Lloyd is known for his speed and explosiveness. The Packers were quite excited to add his quickness to the offense. Unfortunately, Lloyd had about the worst possible injury luck of a player in a long time. During his rookie season, he dealt with a hip injury, an ankle injury, and a hamstring injury. Then, to top it off, he had an emergency surgery on his appendicitis.
Lloyd is a lock to make the 2025 roster. However, his role is still up in the air. The Packers certainly envision Lloyd being their #2 back to compliment the tough, physical style that Josh Jacobs plays with. His explosiveness and speed makes it a challenge for defenses, especially after taking a beating from Jacobs. In a perfect world, Lloyd has a healthy and productive training camp. In his college career, he did struggle with ball security. Lloyd’s ability to protect the football will be worth monitoring that during the preseason.
Packers RB Emanuel Wilson
Packers RB Emanuel Wilson served as the team’s secondary back the majority of the 2024 season. The Packers were inclined to give Wilson the ball while using RB Chris Brooks as a pass blocker. In 2024, Wilson’s highlight game came in Week 3 against the Tennessee Titans. This was the week after Jacobs registered 30 carries against the Colts so naturally, Wilson was called upon. In that game, Wilson had 50 rushing yards, averaging 4.2 yards a carry, 35 receiving yards and a big 30 yard receiving touchdown on a screen pass.
Emanuel Wilson is a hard nose runner who has a solid burst of speed to him. This will be his third year in Green Bay so his understanding of the playbook should be strong. He did struggle with passing block so if he wants to secure that roster spot and solid playing time, he will need to improve that skill. Ultimately the third running back spot, will come down to which back can pass block the best.
Packers RB Chris Brooks
The third running back that is going to be a big piece to the puzzle is Chris Brooks. Brooks was brought in from the Miami Dolphins at the start of the 2024 season. The Packers were impressed with his ability to protect Jordan Love. He excelled at pass blocking and as a result, he saw a lot of action since Emanuel Wilson and Josh Jacobs are not the best pass blocking backs. Brooks did average 5.1 yards a carry on 36 carries and registered 69 receiving yards on 11 receptions. He had one rushing touchdown in 2024.
Brooks’ path to the roster will be proving that he is the best pass blocking back the Packers have on their roster. With the likelihood that Lloyd emerges as RB2, Brooks could see playing time on passing downs as another blocker for Jordan Love. Brooks has also played a lot of snaps on special teams so if he can prove his worth there, that is another way that he could secure a roster spot.
In Conclusion
The Packers could keep four running backs. The likely scenario is that the Packers keep three but try to make sure the fourth back finds his way back to the practice squad. MarShawn Lloyd will be given every opportunity to be the Packers second running back. Jacobs did the majority of the work last year, so Green Bay would prefer to have a reliable second back that can spell Jacobs for a few plays. Ultimately, the final spots on the depth chart will come down to their ability to pass block and their worth on special teams. All in all, it will be an interesting positional battle to watch this summer.
The post The Packers 2025 Positional Battles – The Running Back Room first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.