Second-year running back MarShawn Lloyd remains a bit of a mystery box, and he’s one of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest unknowns in 2025. The third-round pick out of USC saw his first NFL season virtually disappear due to hip, hamstring, and ankle injuries. An appendectomy capped it off.

Despite all the injury hiccups, the Packers must see what they have in Lloyd instead of drafting another running back in April.

Green Bay used a third-round pick on Lloyd in 2024. His twitchy feet and quick burst inspired the Packers to turn in the card with his name on it for the No. 88-overall pick.

The dream was to pair Lloyd with Josh Jacobs to form a dynamic duo in 2024. Jacobs was a one-man wrecking crew after Lloyd played only 10 snaps all season due to his various injuries and ailments.

However, last May, Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich was salivating about using both backs in Matt LaFleur’s offense.

Josh is a phenomenal running back. He’s been All-Pro a couple of times. He’s just one of those guys that’s good in all situations, good out of the backfield as a receiver, excellent runner.

Stenavich’s enthusiastic praise might not even justify Jacobs’s spectacular performance in 2024. Still, Stenavich had dreams of Lloyd being part of the equation.

I liked his speed. I liked his speed a lot. He had some good runs in OTAs where you saw his burst. He’s got good vision, so I’m really excited about that out of the backfield.

LaFleur has always preferred the two-back system. The Packers deployed it with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams and then again with Jones and A.J. Dillon.

In 2025, it should be Jacobs and Lloyd.

Lloyd isn’t a grizzled vet whose best days are behind him. He’s not a late-round pick or undrafted free agent the Packers took a flier on. Green Bay used a third-round selection on Lloyd, hoping he would light it up alongside Jacobs. He didn’t get the chance in 2024 but still has the potential for 2025.

Drafting a running back this April, or at least drafting one with an early pick, would clog things up. It’s a loaded draft class at the position, so it’s hard to blame general managers for being tempted.

Emanuel Wilson had a solid year stepping in as the No. 2 behind Jacobs. Chris Brooks also did well with the totes they gave him. Both are expected to be back with the Packers, along with Jacobs and Lloyd.

Lloyd might as well be viewed as a rookie pick for the Packers next year, given how little he saw the field in 2024. The temptation of going with a back in this class may be strong. Still, Lloyd’s untested ceiling makes for a compelling case to stay put in the backfield.

On The Athletic’s “Matt LaFleur Podcast” after Green Bay’s season ended in January, LaFleur didn’t hold back his thoughts on Lloyd’s potential.

You could see his explosiveness on tape. He would definitely add a dynamic to that room and that position. Any time you can create matchup problems in the passing game, that’s huge for you. He’s got a lot of explosive ability.

“Explosive” seemed to be the operative word, and it’s easy to see why people use it when describing Lloyd.

Let’s say Lloyd doesn’t pan out, or injuries sideline him again. This is a player who tore his ACL in 2020 and also missed time in college in 2022 and 2023 due to injuries. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for health issues to persist.

Jacobs has already shown that if that does occur, he can take on a full workload and then some. It’s not something the Packers would be giddy about having to do, but it was the case for much of 2024.

Beyond that, Wilson was a solid No. 2 for the Packers when called into action. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry on 103 rushes in 2024. The league average hovered around 4.3. Wilson’s 4.9 ranked ninth in the NFL among running backs with at least 100 carries.

Point being, there are insurance policies in place if Lloyd spends significant time on the shelf again.

The plan should be to feature him in the No. 2 spot behind Jacobs and give him every opportunity to flourish in that role.

While reflecting on his season after the Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, Lloyd acknowledged his struggles and expressed excitement about what he could bring to the team moving forward.

Josh had a really good year, and I do think and I do know that I can help him a lot. He had a lot of hits on his body. I’m there to help and he knows that. It’s going to be fun when I get out there on the field to play with him.

LaFleur and Stenavich seem giddy to see Lloyd in action, and Lloyd wants to lessen the burden on Jacobs’ shoulders. The blueprint is in place for Green Bay’s backfield in 2025, and it shouldn’t involve using an early-round pick on a running back if they even take a running back at all.