It's a Packer-heavy week, I guess, with news surrounding their backup quarterback, wide receivers, and now their backfield. Green Bay didn't offer a tender to No. 2 Emanuel Wilson, making him a free agent.
This was surprising in the sense that Wilson has played well for them when given an opportunity. He scored touchdowns in three straight games to close out the 2024 season, then had two strong fill-in performances for Josh Jacobs this year: 107 yards and 2 TDs in a win over Minnesota, and 82 yards in an overtime loss at Chicago.
As No. 2 running backs go, he was one of the 10 most productive players at the position, at least when looking at actual backups (setting aside the guys in tandem backfields, like Charbonnet, or starters who finished as No. 2s due to missing a lot of time due to injury, like Hampton).
| NO. 2 RUSHERS, BY YARDS, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| Kyle Monangai, Chi. | 169 | 783 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Blake Corum, LAR | 145 | 746 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Zach Charbonnet, Sea. | 184 | 730 | 4.0 | 12 |
| David Montgomery, Det. | 158 | 716 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E. | 130 | 603 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Rachaad White, T.B. | 132 | 572 | 4.3 | 4 |
| Aaron Jones, Min. | 132 | 548 | 4.2 | 2 |
| Omarion Hampton, LAC | 124 | 545 | 4.4 | 4 |
| RJ Harvey, Den. | 146 | 540 | 3.7 | 7 |
| Kenneth Gainwell, Pitt. | 114 | 537 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Tyler Allgeier, Atl. | 143 | 514 | 3.6 | 8 |
| Chuba Hubbard, Car. | 134 | 511 | 3.8 | 1 |
| Nick Chubb, Hou. | 122 | 506 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Chris Rodriguez, Was. | 112 | 500 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Emanuel Wilson, G.B. | 125 | 496 | 4.0 | 3 |
| Isiah Pacheco, K.C. | 118 | 462 | 3.9 | 1 |
| Devin Singletary, NYG | 119 | 437 | 3.7 | 5 |
| Brian Robinson Jr., S.F. | 92 | 400 | 4.3 | 2 |
| Samaje Perine, Cin. | 84 | 382 | 4.5 | 3 |
| Bhayshul Tuten, Jac. | 83 | 307 | 3.7 | 5 |
| Jaylen Wright, Mia. | 70 | 288 | 4.1 | 2 |
| Tyjae Spears, Ten. | 72 | 283 | 3.9 | 2 |
| Zonovan Knight, Ari. | 82 | 269 | 3.3 | 4 |
| Devin Neal, N.O. | 57 | 206 | 3.6 | 2 |
| Dylan Sampson, Cle. | 65 | 175 | 2.7 | 0 |
Wilson obviously won't be a top target like Kenneth Walker or Breece Hall, but I could see a running back-needy team at least considering him as a potential starter. Denver needs a back to pair with RJ Harvey, for example; they could do worse than taking a look at Wilson.
The Packers (unless they opt to bring back Wilson) will be looking at Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd as No. 2s. Brooks has flashed some potential, both with Miami (a 9 for 66 game as a rookie, in 2023) and Green Bay. He's averaged 60 rushing yards in a pair of Week 18 games for them the last two years, so maybe they're comfortable with him as the No. 2. But they haven't actually given him much work.
Lloyd was a third-round pick two years ago but has spent multiple stints on IR and didn't even get on the field last year. Unlikely they're actually counting on him at this point.
If Wilson signs elsewhere, I'll have some interest. And Brooks will merit a long look in the preseason, with Jacobs a heavily-used 28-year-old.
--Andy Richardson
