Green Bay Packers linked to a former 1,000-yard rusher after 17-yard rushing night
The Green Bay Packers ran nine times for 17 yards in a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 24. Within a week, they had signed three veteran offensive linemen.
MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks have split the carries with Josh Jacobs on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list.
Wendell Ferreira of A to Z Sports listed running back Antonio Gibson among six free agents who could help the Packers. He pointed to Gibson’s work as a receiver and as a kick returner who could pair with Skyy Moore. No outlet has reported Green Bay interest in Gibson.
MarShawn Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks through three games
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (32) participates in drills during the third day of training camp on July 25, 2025, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.
Lloyd opened the season as the lead back. Before Week 1, general manager Brian Gutekunst told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that Lloyd was “ready as he’s ever been.”
After the opener, LaFleur’s measure was that Lloyd finished the game healthy.
“He’s shown a lot of confidence that he’s able to do it,” LaFleur said, per Jason B. Hirschorn of The Leap.
Three games in, Lloyd has 23 carries for 68 yards, a 3.0-yard average. His only touchdown came on a reception.
Johnson came over in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him 83rd overall in 2025. He did not carry the ball in Week 1 and has 12 carries for 38 yards since.
Brooks has played the most snaps of the three. He has 11 carries for 40 yards and did not get one against Atlanta.
LaFleur said this week that a working run game is what keeps pass rushers from teeing off on Jordan Love.
“I think it just keeps defenses at bay, off balance,” LaFleur said.
Antonio Gibson’s career with Washington and New England
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye extends the ball to running back Antonio Gibson on a handoff in front of a sunlit crowd. The Patriots beat the Panthers 42-13 on Sept. 28, 2025, at Gillette Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)
Washington drafted Gibson out of Memphis in the third round, 66th overall, in 2020. He ran for 795 yards as a rookie. In 2021, he carried 258 times for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns.
Gibson signed with the New England Patriots before the 2024 season and ran 120 times for 538 yards that year.
His 2025 season lasted five games. He had 25 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, and his 90-yard kickoff return for a score at Miami in Week 2 earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
He tore his ACL on a kickoff return at Buffalo on Oct. 5, 2025. New England released Gibson, now 28, on Feb. 23.
Over 83 career games, Gibson has 35 starts and 3,287 rushing yards with 24 rushing touchdowns. He has added 1,495 receiving yards. On kickoffs, he has 56 returns for 1,407 yards.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.