In a cruel twist of fate, Green Bay Packers rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd finds himself sidelined once again, just as he was on the cusp of rejoining the active roster. The promising third-round pick, who has been limited to a single appearance this season due to an ankle injury, is now facing an emergency appendectomy that will further delay his return to the field.
A Season of Setbacks
Lloyd’s rookie campaign has been marred by a series of unfortunate injuries. After making his NFL debut in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts, the young rusher suffered an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve. The Packers had high hopes for Lloyd’s return, opening his 21-day practice window earlier this week in anticipation of activating him to fill an open spot on the 53-man roster.
However, fate had other plans. On Friday, Lloyd reached out to the Packers’ training staff, complaining of abdominal pain. The diagnosis: appendicitis, requiring an immediate surgical intervention. Coach Matt LaFleur expressed his disbelief and disappointment, stating, “You can’t make this stuff up. Unfortunately, he had appendicitis. It’s a shame, because he was making progress. But he’ll rebound. I’m confident in that.”
A Promising Talent
Despite the limited on-field action, the Packers remain optimistic about Lloyd’s potential. In his lone appearance, the rookie showcased his explosive quickness and receiving ability, hinting at the dynamic playmaker he could become. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich eagerly awaited Lloyd’s return, expressing his excitement to incorporate the young talent into the game plan.
“I can’t wait to get him back in the fold,” Stenavich remarked Thursday. “Obviously, with the bye week you go back and self-scout, watch all the old film that you had from the year, and the one game that he played you just saw his explosive potential, his quickness, his receiving ability, very good player.”
The Road to Recovery
While the appendectomy is an unexpected hurdle, the Packers remain confident in Lloyd’s ability to bounce back. In 2022, left tackle David Bakhtiari underwent a similar procedure and returned to action after a three-week absence. The team is hopeful that Lloyd’s recovery will follow a comparable timeline, though the specifics of his return remain uncertain.
The Packers now face a decision regarding Lloyd’s roster status. They may need to temporarily activate him for a day before placing him back on injured reserve, which would count as one of the team’s eight allowable IR activations for the season. Alternatively, the team is exploring the possibility of placing Lloyd on the non-football injury list, given that his 21-day practice window had not yet concluded.
A Rushing Attack Unphased
Despite the setback to their rookie rusher, the Packers’ ground game has continued to thrive. Led by star running back Josh Jacobs, Green Bay entered the week ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing offense. The team’s depth at the position has allowed them to weather the absence of their promising young talent, though they eagerly await his return to the fold.
As MarShawn Lloyd faces this latest challenge, the Packers organization and fans alike rally behind him, eager to witness the explosive potential he teased in his brief debut. While the road to recovery may be winding, the rookie’s determination and the team’s support provide hope that he will soon be back on the field, making his mark in the green and gold.
