According to coach Matt LaFleur, it’s still possible the Green Bay Packers return rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd before the end of the season.
Lloyd, who hasn’t played since Week 2, remains on the non-football illness list but could return at any time. LaFleur said the Packers wouldn’t rush him back but would leave the door open for him to return with three games left.
“I never want to close the door on that. If he can,” LaFleur said Thursday. “We’re getting close to the end, but I never want to close that door completely. He will focus on continuing to improve and when he can leave, he will leave.
Lloyd went through the wringer as a rookie. Before the start of training camp, he suffered a hip injury. He suffered a hamstring injury during his first preseason game. He suffered an ankle injury in his NFL regular-season debut. And then, just as he was about to return from the reserve, he needed an unexpected appendectomy.
Lloyd will have to get back on the field first. He must be activated from the non-football illness list to the 53-man squad before he can train.
The Packers are playing probable Pro Bowler Josh Jacobs, who has 293 touches this season, as well as backups Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks. However, Lloyd could add a active option at a later stage if he manages to come back and gain speed.
In his only action of the season, Lloyd rushed six times for 15 yards and caught one pass.
Jordan Love ascending
LaFleur believes quarterback Jordan Love will be playing his best football at the end of the 2024 season. The Packers coach sees his quarterback manipulating the pocket and making good decisions as football is at a high since the bye.
“I think it’s the best ball he’s ever played,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s playing at a really high level.”
Over the last five games, Love has thrown eight touchdown passes and just one interception, posting five straight games with a passer rating of 100.0 or higher. He is completing 68.7 percent of his passes with an overall passer rating of 119.9 and has led the NFL in yards per attempt (9.9) since Week 11.
Perhaps nothing is more crucial to postseason success than a top quarterback playing at an elite level. The Packers appear to have checked that box as January approaches.
The Saints have allowed just 14 passing touchdowns this season, and no team has scored more than 21 points against New Orleans over the last five games. Can Love stay balmy against an underrated defense?
Jaire update
LaFleur said defenseman Jaire Alexander was a full participant in Thursday’s practice, but before the team can learn more about his potential return this week, practice tape will need to be reviewed.
“I can tell you after watching the tape,” LaFleur said. “He was there. It was full. We’ll look at the tape and hopefully we can build on it and have a great day tomorrow.”
Alexander, who first suffered a knee injury in slow October, trained intensively last week on Wednesday and Thursday, but did not show enough physicality during the two practices to prove he was ready to play. Since his injury in Jacksonville in Week 8, Alexander has missed four straight games and five of the last six.
The Packers will practice again on Friday.
