Running back MarShawn Lloyd among injured Packers who returned to practice

GREEN BAY – Running back MarShawn Lloyd is among three Green Bay Packers players who could return from injury in the next three weeks.

The Packers opened the three-week window for activation by having Lloyd, defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. and linebacker Collin Oliver practice Dec. 1.

Lloyd has been on injured reserve since suffering a groin pull in training camp. The Packers used one of two designated-to-return options afforded them for players injured in training camp. If they hadn’t used it, Lloyd would have been out for the season if put on injured reserve.

Lloyd, a third-round draft pick in 2024, has barely seen the field in two seasons, playing just 10 snaps since entering the NFL. He was put on injured reserve with a severe hamstring pull six games into last season and did not return.

The Packers drafted him in part because he is unusually fast for a big man. At 5-foot-9, 220 pounds, Lloyd ran the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds at the scouting combine. He also had a 36-inch vertical jump and bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times.

He averaged 7.1 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns during his senior year at USC. He also caught 13 passes for 232 yards (17.8 average).

After sending Lloyd to Badger Athletic Performance on the UW-Madison campus for a physiological assessment and treatment plan, the Packers hoped they had found a reason for various soft-tissue injuries he was suffering. But he injured his groin on the fifth day of training camp and missed seven practices and the game against the New York Jets.

He returned to practice the following week and played against the Indianapolis. But after showing why the Packers had so much hope for him with a 33-yard catch-and-run, he pulled his hamstring at the end of the play.

According to sources, Lloyd went to another clinic in California and assessments showed an ACL injury he suffered in college might have changed the biomechanics in his stride and led to him continually suffering leg-muscle injuries.

The Packers will find out whether Lloyd can stay healthy. They have three weeks in which he can practice before they have to decide whether to put him on the 53-man roster, cut him or return him to injured reserve for the rest of the season.

The Packers have a full running back room with Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks. But coach Matt LaFleur might want to see if Lloyd could add some breakaway ability to his offense.

Brenton Cox Jr. injury update

Cox has been out since suffering a groin injury in Week 2 against Washington. He has played eight snaps this season. Cox impressed the Packers with his pass-rush ability and made the roster in 2024 despite not being drafted.

He played in seven games last year after being inactive for the first 10 weeks and had four sacks. The Packers expected him to be a situational pass rusher this season. He could fill in for end Lukas Van Ness if the former first-round pick continues to have trouble with an injured foot, which has limited him to six snaps in his past six games.

Collin Oliver injury update

Oliver, a fifth-round draft pick this year, underwent hamstring surgery in the offseason, did not take part in training camp and has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list due to his injury occurring before camp started. He’s an intriguing player who can play both linebacker and edge rusher. He had 11½ sacks as a freshman at Oklahoma State and finished his time there with 23½ sacks and 40½ total tackles for loss.

There isn’t any room on the roster for the 6-2, 240-pound Oliver, so the Packers may be just getting him on the practice field to get him some work before placing him on injured reserve. But if there is an injury, Oliver would be an option to be added to the 53-man roster.

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Running back MarShawn Lloyd among injured Packers returned to practice