The Green Bay Packers are entering the 2024 NFL season with a dramatically different running back room compared to 2023. Last season, Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, and Emanuel Wilson made up the initial trio on the 53-man roster, but only Wilson is returning this year.
Jones, despite becoming the first Packers player to rush for 100+ yards in five consecutive games, was plagued by injuries in 2023. After finishing with 656 rushing yards and two touchdowns in just 11 games, Jones found himself released earlier this offseason following a contract dispute. He has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings.
AJ Dillon, who had 613 yards and two touchdowns last season but posted a career-low 3.4 yards per carry, re-signed with the Packers on a team-friendly deal. Unfortunately, Dillon suffered his second neck injury in less than a year during training camp and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
LIVE: Head Coach Matt LaFleur meets with the media. 🎙️ https://t.co/kcawCUlYCn
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To revitalize their backfield, the Packers made a splash by signing former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs in free agency. Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing champion, is looking to bounce back after a down year that saw him rack up 805 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. Green Bay also added rookie Marshawn Lloyd, a third-round pick, to round out their running back corps.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur addressed Dillon’s injury with disappointment. “It’s really discouraging because we had a pretty clear vision for what he was going to do,” LaFleur said. “The versatility was what I was most excited about, in regards to doing a lot of things.”
Dillon’s absence leaves the Packers with a new-look backfield as they head into the season. All eyes will be on Jacobs to see if he can regain his dominant form and lead the Packers’ ground game in 2024.
