GREEN BAY \u2014 Zaire Franklin enjoyed the backflip as much as anyone.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 and the Jordan Love-to-MarShawn Lloyd touchdown that prompted the celebratory flip \u2014 during Thursday\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n
But as one of Lloyd\u2019s biggest fans and his workout buddy, he was thrilled \u2014 especially having learned upon arriving in a March trade about everything Lloyd has endured the past two seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe 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,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him, \u2018You know, in order to play for as long as I have, first and foremost, you\u2019ve got to be lucky. You\u2019ve got to be blessed. And a lot of it is just taking care of what you can take care of.\u2019 And he does everything that he’s supposed to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve been around guys who’ve been unlucky, but he’s \u2026\u00a0 I told him, I said, “You ain’t fragile. You\u2019re a tough person.\u2019 I think sometimes guys who go through stuff like that just need encouragement and just need somebody that understands where they’re coming from.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Franklin isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Two summers ago, Lloyd started his first NFL training camp on the non-football injury list with an offseason hip injury.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 only to play just 10 snaps and carry six times for 15 yards before an ankle injury ended his day.<\/p>\n
The Packers put him on injured reserve 48 hours later, and to this day, that remains the only non-preseason game Lloyd has played.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Last year, Lloyd suffered a calf injury in preseason \u2014 after showing a glimpse of his ability on a 33-yard catch against the Colts \u2014 and began the season on injured reserve.<\/p>\n
And once again, just as he started practicing in December to come off IR, he sustained a hamstring injury, ending his season \u2014 again.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the Packers haven\u2019t given up on him \u2014 even when other teams might have.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have two years and not play and [stay on the team]. This organization is great,\u201d Lloyd said. \u201cNow, it\u2019s my time to give back. I\u2019m excited. I\u2019m ready to go. I\u2019m going to show them why they picked me in the third round.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday night\u2019s Family Night practice inside Lambeau Field will mark the first time he\u2019s 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\u2019s preseason opener at Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never want to overload a guy, especially when it comes to a guy that\u2019s been snakebit,\u201d Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. \u201cCertainly I think he\u2019s flashed the ability. He\u2019s an explosive dude who can create some big, explosive plays. I think it\u2019s just we\u2019ve got to continue to be smart and stick with the plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that plan includes banning future backflips after practice-field touchdowns. After Lloyd\u2019s flip on Thursday, LaFleur took him aside and politely asked him to cease and desist.<\/p>\n
#Packers<\/a> head coach Matt LaFleur did indeed tell MarShawn Lloyd, \u201cNo more backflips\u201d after his touchdown celebration at practice, but after all of the adversity Lloyd has been through, it\u2019s easy to understand how the joy can be hard to contain for the third-year RB. pic.twitter.com\/dALImSkeyT<\/a><\/p>\n