The Frozen Tundra has a way of swallowing up elite talent, and honestly, the current situation with the running back for the Green Bay Packers is way more complicated than just looking at a box score. If you only check the stats from the 2025 season, you’d think the wheels fell off. You’d see Josh Jacobs finishing with 929 yards—a far cry from his 1,300-yard explosion in 2024—and assume he's "washed."
But that’s not what’s actually happening in Lambeau.
If you really watch the tape from this past year, you’ll see a backfield that was essentially fighting a war behind a transitioning offensive line. Josh Jacobs didn't suddenly forget how to run. He was still forcing missed tackles at a high clip (44 on the year, to be exact) and grinding out 3.06 yards after contact. The problem? He was getting hit before he could even blink.
Why the Running Back for the Green Bay Packers is Still Josh Jacobs’ Job
There was a lot of chatter heading into 2026 about whether Green Bay would move on. His cap hit is set to jump to roughly $14.54 million. That's a massive number. In the NFL, "expensive and aging" usually equals "unemployed," but Jacobs is the exception here because of his "gravity" on the field.
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Defenses still play the Packers differently when he's in the game. They stack the box. They cheat toward the line of scrimmage. This opens up everything for Jordan Love and that young receiving corps. Without a legitimate threat as the running back for the Green Bay Packers, the entire offensive scheme Matt LaFleur has built starts to crumble.
Plus, the guy is a tank. He played through the flu. He played through a nagging knee injury that would have sidelined most players for a month. You can't just replace that kind of veteran presence with a rookie and expect the locker room to stay the same.
The MarShawn Lloyd Mystery
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: MarShawn Lloyd.
When the Packers took him in the third round of the 2024 draft, people (myself included) thought he was the future. He’s got the twitch. He’s got the hands. But he’s become the "Sasquatch" of Green Bay—lots of rumors, very few sightings.
Lloyd spent basically the entire 2025 season on Injured Reserve. Hamstrings. Appendicitis. More hamstrings. It’s been a nightmare. As of January 2026, he’s only recorded 15 rushing yards in his professional career. That is a staggering statistic for a guy with his draft pedigree. This upcoming training camp isn't just "important" for him; it's quite literally his last chance to prove he belongs on an active roster.
The Packers are notoriously patient, but even Brian Gutekunst has a limit.
The Rise of the "Other" Guys
While everyone was waiting for Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks actually stepped up. Wilson is an interesting case. He’s a restricted free agent now, but he’s basically become the steady hand. He put up nearly 500 yards in 2025, matching his 2024 output almost yard-for-yard.
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- Emanuel Wilson: The reliable RB2 who averages 4.0 yards per carry even when the blocking is sub-par.
- Chris Brooks: The "brick wall" in pass protection. If you want Jordan Love to stay upright on 3rd and long, Brooks is the guy in the backfield.
- Pierre Strong Jr.: A recent futures contract signing who might just be the dark horse of 2026.
What to Expect Heading into 2026
The Packers just signed a wave of futures deals, including Pierre Strong Jr. and a kid named Damien Martinez who was a beast in college but got lost in the shuffle in Seattle. These aren't just "camp bodies." They are direct signals that the team is looking for more explosive playmaking from the running back for the Green Bay Packers position.
Don't be surprised if the draft brings another mid-round runner.
The strategy in Green Bay has shifted. They aren't looking for one "workhorse" anymore. They want a stable of different looks. They want the "Thunder and Thunder" vibe of Jacobs and a healthy AJ Dillon (who, by the way, spent 2025 in Philly but remains a fan favorite in Door County) or a new "Lightning" archetype.
Honestly, the biggest factor for the run game in 2026 isn't even the backs—it's the health of the offensive line. When Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom are locked in, any of these guys can look like All-Pros. When they're shuffled due to injury, even a Hall of Famer would struggle.
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Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re trying to track where this backfield is going, stop looking at the highlight reels and start looking at these three things:
- The Draft Capital: If the Packers take a running back in the first three rounds again, Josh Jacobs' long-term security in Green Bay is officially on a timer.
- MarShawn Lloyd's Training Camp Availability: If he misses even a week of August practice, expect the team to look for an injury settlement.
- The Post-June 1st Cap Moves: This is when the Packers could technically save about $11.4 million on Jacobs if they decide to go full youth-movement, though it's unlikely given his locker room status.
The backfield in Green Bay is in a state of flux, but the goal remains the same: keep the pressure off Jordan Love. Whether that's Jacobs grinding out four yards on a muddy December afternoon or a newcomer like Pierre Strong Jr. catching a wheel route for 40 yards, the identity of this team is tied to the ground game more than people realize. Watch the transactions in late March; that's when the real 2026 plan will reveal itself.