The math is interesting. Green Bay Packers insider Bill Huber crunched some numbers on the team’s future at running back, and the percentages favor a guy who has barely played two seasons into his NFL career.
MarShawn Lloyd, the Packers’ third-year back, has spent most of his pro tenure on the sideline with hamstring and lower-body injuries. But Huber, writing for a Packers-focused outlet, sees a potential shift coming in 2026. He answered a mailbag question about Lloyd recently and didn’t hedge much.
Huber said he does think this year will be different for Lloyd. He pointed out that Lloyd practiced every day during spring workouts. That might not sound like much, but for a player who has struggled to stay on the field, showing up for OTAs and minicamp is a real step forward. Even Lloyd himself acknowledged that.
Where it gets more interesting is when Huber looked ahead to 2027. He was asked directly whether Lloyd could be the Week 1 starter over Josh Jacobs next season. Huber laid out a specific breakdown: 35 percent chance for Lloyd, 30 percent for Jacobs, 20 percent for Chris Brooks, and 15 percent for a rookie or some veteran addition.
That’s a lot of faith in a guy who hasn’t taken a padded practice snap yet this offseason. But Jacobs’ situation is fluid. He’s dealing with some legal trouble that could affect his availability this fall, and his cap hit next season is hefty. The Packers might have financial incentive to move on if Lloyd proves he can handle the workload.
Health Is the Whole Conversation
None of this matters if Lloyd can’t stay on the field. Multiple hamstring injuries and other lower-body issues have limited him to just a handful of games. Teams don’t hand the starting job to a player with that kind of track record. But Lloyd has been healthy through spring workouts, and that’s more than he managed last year.
Huber acknowledged the caveat. Practicing in June isn’t the same as surviving training camp or making it through a 17-game season. But he called Lloyd’s spring availability a really big first step. That’s about all you can ask for at this stage.
Packers fans will want to watch Lloyd closely once padded practices start later this summer. If he holds up through camp and preseason, the speculation about a breakout season starts to look less like wishful thinking and more like a real possibility.
For now, it’s all hypothetical. Lloyd has yet to prove he can take an NFL hit and stay upright. But Huber’s confidence suggests the Packers see something in him that goes beyond his injury history.
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