With Josh Jacobs sidelined and current rushing metrics cratering, the Green Bay Packers face a backfield crisis. The pressure mounts to find a veteran capable of outperforming struggling youngsters.
Update: Austin Ekeler has reportedly been signed by the Washington Commanders
The good news for Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd is that he's stayed healthy through the first three games of the 2026 NFL season.
That was something that previously couldn't have been said for him. Lloyd had only 10 career snaps in two seasons due to health issues.
The good news for running back Kaleb Johnson is that he actually has a role to play for the Packers. A 2025 third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson fell out of favor with former Pitt coach Mike Tomlin and only managed 28 carries as a rookie.
He's at 12 through three games with the Pack, so there's a decent chance he eclipses that 28 this season.
The bad news?
Lloyd is healthy, but the "wiggle" and explosion that he was supposed to bring to the table have not been present. He's rushed 23 times for 68 yards so far, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. To his credit, he has caught a touchdown pass.
As far as Johnson is concerned, any of talent that he showed in his final collegiate season seems to have been sapped by the Iowa Hawkeyes. In 2024, he rushed 240 times for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns for Iowa.
So far this season he's notched 12 carries for 38 yards, or 3.2 yards per attempt.
It's not good. The Packers are the worst rushing team in the NFL right now and while much of this can be chalked up to the offensive line being complete horse manure, the simple truth of the matter is that both Lloyd and Johnson are subpar NFL running backs.
And Josh Jacobs can't save the Pack right now. He's currently on the commissioner's exempt list for an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred this past spring. He pled no contest to battery and criminal damage to property in early September, but the NFL has yet to rule on a punishment.
There's also a world in which Jacobs never plays for the Packers again. According to reports, there is a video of this alleged incident and the NFL is wanting to see it before it makes its decision on Jacobs' suspension.
What that means for the Packers is that they're essentially screwed on the ground until Jacobs gets back into the fold — if he's even able to.
Does this mean the Packers are doomed to less than 20 yards per game on the ground moving forward? That's absolutely possible.
General manager Brian Gutekunst needs to turn over every stone to try to figure this thing out before it's too late, though. The team is only 1-2, but it feels like the Packers are standing on the edge of oblivion and a massive losing streak could be en route.
One way he could try to fix this problem is by cutting Lloyd or Johnson and then looking to free agency for a veteran replacement.
Anyone still a free agent at this point of the season comes with some massive question marks, but someone like Austin Ekeler has to be a better option for the Packers than just trotting out chicken "you know what" and hoping to come away with chicken salad.
In fact, Ekeler is an interesting target at this stage of the game.
The Green Bay Packers should call up Austin Ekeler
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler (30) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images., he's 31 years old and coming off an Achilles tear from when he was playing with the Washington Commanders last September.
That means he's 0-for-2 in the batter's box, but he does have a few other things going for him.
First, we know he's staying ready. He just worked out for the Carolina Panthers and apparently looked alright.
Second, he'll come cheap. His last contract was a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the Commanders, but he's worth way less than that right now.
Lastly, Ekeler is a former All-Pro running back. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2024 for the Commanders and a first-team All-Pro in 2022 for the Los Angeles Chargers.
What a running back did a few years ago doesn't mean much in today's NFL, but one would imagine that Ekeler's 9,053 all-purpose yards and 73 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns would help the Packers more in their situation than both Lloyd and Johnson combined.
At this point, the Packers have nothing to lose, so it's time to give someone like Ekeler a call. Heck, maybe Dr. Samkon Gado can take a few snaps while we're at it.
