Packers RB AJ Dillon Runs Past Titans Safety Kenny Vaccaro - Photo by Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) – While the team appears to have found their kicker for the upcoming season, the Packers will be without both of their backup running backs to start the 2024 regular season as A.J. Dillon and rookie MarShawn Lloyd have been placed on the injured reserve list.
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, veteran running back A.J. Dillon (neck) has been placed on season-ending IR, which could lead to the end of his time with the organization by receiving an injury settlement, while the “expectation” is that MarShawn Llyod (hamstring) will begin the season on IR with a designation to return.
The new league rules state that teams may place two players on injured reserve after final cuts, but those players must miss a minimum of four weeks to return, meaning Lloyd would be eligible to make his Packers debut when Green Bay travels to Los Angeles to face the Rams in Week 5.
In the meantime, the team will look to second-year running back Emanuel Wilson to help star running back Josh Jacobs carry the load for the first month of the season after he posted an impressive preseason rushing for 160 yards and one touchdown on 37 carries.
These roster moves leave the future of A.J. Dillon’s professional career uncertain, as neck injuries are largely considered unpredictable and can pose serious long-term risks. Former Packers safety Nick Collins suffered a somewhat similar neck injury and was carted off the field after trying to tackle former Carolina Panthers running Jonathan Stewart back in 2011, which led to his retirement not long after.
As for the Packers’ open kicker job, former Vikings kicker Greg Joseph has made the 53-man roster, signaling that he has won the starting job after making three out of his four field goal attempts during the team’s three preseason games, along with making both of his extra point attempts.
Comments