The Green Bay Packers are throwing the roster equivalent of a Hail Mary to keep alive hopes of running back MarShawn Lloyd playing during the 2025 season.

First, let’s run through the timeline. Lloyd, a 2024 third-round pick, injured his hamstring during the preseason and began the regular season on injured reserve. He had his 21-day practice window opened on Dec. 2. Ten days later, and after a week and a half of practice, Lloyd suffered a hamstring injury. On Tuesday of this week, coach Matt LaFleur implied Lloyd would likely miss the rest of the season considering he needed to be activated to the 53-man roster by Monday, Dec. 22 or spend the rest of the year on injured reserve.

So, here’s what the Packers did: On Wednesday, and with an open roster spot due to Micah Parsons going on injured reserve, the Packers activated Lloyd to the 53-man roster. On Friday, needing a roster spot for the activation of Brenton Cox Jr., the Packers placed Lloyd back on injured reserve.

By going through this back-and-forth procedure, the Packers actually gave Lloyd a chance to return during the postseason. By rule, Lloyd must now miss the next four games. But after the four games, the Packers will once again have the ability to activate him off injured reserve and to the 53-man roster.

The Packers have only three more regular season games to go, so it would take a playoff appearance and a playoff win for Lloyd to have a chance to play again. But in this Hail Mary scenario, Lloyd could be available if the Packers win a playoff game in January.

A long shot, considering Lloyd’s almost unbelievable injury history during his first two seasons in Green Bay? Sure. But the Packers clearly see a talent just waiting to be unleashed and were willing to jump through a couple of hoops to ensure Lloyd still has a chance to play this season.