Packers Sign Ex-Chiefs RB, Place Another on IR Ahead of Week 1
The Green Bay Packers have added more depth to their injury-plagued backfield in a series of roster moves ahead of their 2024 season opener in Brazil.
According to the team’s transaction wire, the Packers signed former Kansas City Chiefs running back and 2020 fourth-round pick La’Mical Perine to their practice squad and placed rusher Nate McCrary on the practice squad/injured reserve list on August 30.
The Packers are short on depth at the running back position heading into Week 1 of the 2024 regular season. Rookie MarShawn Lloyd — their No. 2 rusher behind Josh Jacobs — is nursing a hamstring injury and is uncertain to play against the Philadelphia Eagles, while veteran AJ Dillon is out for the season after injuring his neck in training camp.
If the Packers cannot clear Lloyd in time to play against the Eagles, Jacobs and second-year Emanuel Wilson would be their only healthy running backs on the 53-man roster. Should that happen, the team would likely elevate either Perine or fellow running back Ellis Merriweather from the practice squad to the game-day roster against the Eagles.
The Packers also signed sixth-round rookie cornerback Kamal Hadden and fullback Andrew Beck to their 16-man practice squad on August 30.
MarShawn Lloyd Returns to Practice in Limited Capacity
Perine would offer some additional experience to the Packers’ running back rotation if they promoted him for Week 1. In 17 career games, he has averaged 3.6 yards per carry, doing most of his damage as a rookie in 2020 when he rushed 64 times for 232 yards and two touchdowns for the New York Jets. That’s considerably more production than Wilson and his 84 career rushing yards; although, Perine would still slot behind him.
The Packers, however, might not ultimately need to promote anyone from the practice squad if Lloyd continues trending in the right direction with his hamstring.
Lloyd practiced as a limited participant for a second consecutive day on September 2. While the Packers have not released their first injury report for Week 1, his return to the practice field after missing the final few weeks of camp is an encouraging sign for his availability against the Eagles — even if the Packers remain noncommittal on his status.
“We’ll see. We’ll give him the week to watch him as he progresses,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on September 1. “Certainly, we’re gonna be smart with him, and he was limited today, but he’s doing more and more, and we’ll see where he’s at.”
