GREEN BAY — Zaire Franklin enjoyed the backflip as much as anyone.

Now, being the on-field signal-caller for the Green Bay Packers defense, Franklin definitely did not enjoy the busted coverage that led to it — and the Jordan Love-to-MarShawn Lloyd touchdown that prompted the celebratory flip — during Thursday’s practice.

But as one of Lloyd’s biggest fans and his workout buddy, he was thrilled — especially having learned upon arriving in a March trade about everything Lloyd has endured the past two seasons.

“Me and MarShawn first hit it off in the weight room, just because I’m in Year 9, so I ain’t got no choice but to take care of my body,” Franklin said, having approached Lloyd during a workout earlier 45 minutes earlier to congratulate him on getting through a full week of training camp without any injury setbacks.

“I told him, ‘You know, in order to play for as long as I have, first and foremost, you’ve got to be lucky. You’ve got to be blessed. And a lot of it is just taking care of what you can take care of.’ And he does everything that he’s supposed to do.

“I’ve been around guys who’ve been unlucky, but he’s …  I told him, I said, “You ain’t fragile. You’re a tough person.’ I think sometimes guys who go through stuff like that just need encouragement and just need somebody that understands where they’re coming from.

“I’ve just been a guy that had felt down myself, and for somebody to give me that helping hand, anytime I can be that person for somebody, that’s always what I try to do.”

Franklin isn’t the only one rooting for Lloyd. It seems that to a man in the Packers locker room, everyone is hoping for the best for their star-crossed teammate.

In his two NFL seasons, Lloyd has missed 35 of a possible 36 games (including playoffs) because of a myriad of injuries the Packers took him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Two summers ago, Lloyd started his first NFL training camp on the non-football injury list with an offseason hip injury.

He saw his first game action in the second preseason game at Denver and promptly suffered a hamstring injury in that game. He missed the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil because of it, then made his NFL regular-season debut in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field — only to play just 10 snaps and carry six times for 15 yards before an ankle injury ended his day.

The Packers put him on injured reserve 48 hours later, and to this day, that remains the only non-preseason game Lloyd has played.

On the verge of being activated from IR late in his rookie year, Lloyd suffered appendicitis, leading to an emergency surgery. The Packers subsequently put him on the non-football injury list again, and his season was over.

Last year, Lloyd suffered a calf injury in preseason — after showing a glimpse of his ability on a 33-yard catch against the Colts — and began the season on injured reserve.

And once again, just as he started practicing in December to come off IR, he sustained a hamstring injury, ending his season — again.

Nevertheless, the Packers haven’t given up on him — even when other teams might have.

“You don’t have two years and not play and [stay on the team]. This organization is great,” Lloyd said. “Now, it’s my time to give back. I’m excited. I’m ready to go. I’m going to show them why they picked me in the third round.”

Friday night’s Family Night practice inside Lambeau Field will mark the first time he’s actually participated after spending the previous two prime-time practices on the sideline as an injured spectator. The hope is for him to get some work in that practice, then see more action in next week’s preseason opener at Pittsburgh.

“You never want to overload a guy, especially when it comes to a guy that’s been snakebit,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “Certainly I think he’s flashed the ability. He’s an explosive dude who can create some big, explosive plays. I think it’s just we’ve got to continue to be smart and stick with the plan.”

And that plan includes banning future backflips after practice-field touchdowns. After Lloyd’s flip on Thursday, LaFleur took him aside and politely asked him to cease and desist.

#Packers head coach Matt LaFleur did indeed tell MarShawn Lloyd, “No more backflips” after his touchdown celebration at practice, but after all of the adversity Lloyd has been through, it’s easy to understand how the joy can be hard to contain for the third-year RB. pic.twitter.com/dALImSkeyT

— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) August 6, 2026

“He said, ‘It was cool, but let’s not do that [again],’” said Lloyd, who got a handful of extra snaps with No. 1 running back Josh Jacobs nursing a mild groin injury. “If he says it’s over, it’s over.”

At the same time, the Packers are hoping it’s just the beginning of Lloyd’s contributions.

“Every time he’s got an opportunity and he’s been healthy and out there, he’s been impactful. And he’s continuing to do that,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “I’m excited for him. Again, it’s very early, got a long way to go. But when he’s out there, he’s making plays and he’s turning heads.”

Added offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich: “He’s looked good. I’ve been very happy with him, so we’re going to keep progressing and, hopefully, it works out.

“Every day he’s out there and doing it, I have a little bit more [confidence]. [With] how his career’s gone so far, I just want to take it one day at a time with him. He’s doing a great job, he’s competing, but I think this preseason’s going to be a huge telling point of what we can do with him this year.

“He needs to carry the ball because he hasn’t done it much in game situations the last two years. So that’s going to be important.”

In the meantime, everyone from Jacobs to Love to Franklin to Micah Parsons, whose locker is right next to Lloyd’s, will be rooting for him.

“It’s good to have people who actually care and understand. They’re excited for me,” Lloyd said. “I’ve got to just keep stacking days, keep treating my body and doing what I need to do to go to practice the next day and just keep going.”

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