GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers’ rookie running back, MarShawn Lloyd, will not be making his return from injured reserve as expected due to an unexpected diagnosis of appendicitis. Coach Matt LaFleur revealed that Lloyd reported abdominal pain, prompting him to seek evaluation from the team’s vice president of player health and performance, Bryan Engel, along with head athletic trainer Nate Weir.

Upon examination, it was confirmed that Lloyd is suffering from appendicitis, a condition that has further delayed his comeback efforts. LaFleur expressed his disappointment on Friday, noting the unfortunate timing of this setback as Lloyd was eager to return to the field after being on injured reserve since September 17 due to an ankle injury. The third-round draft pick from Southern California had only participated in one game this season but had resumed practice this week with hopes of rejoining the team soon.

“He’ll bounce back,” LaFleur affirmed, offering encouragement to the rookie. “I have faith in him. It’s definitely unfortunate.” In the one game he has played in this season, Lloyd recorded 15 rushing yards on six attempts during a victory against the Indianapolis Colts on September 15. The Packers selected the talented running back with the 88th pick in this year’s NFL Draft after he completed his college career at Southern California, following a two-year stint at South Carolina from 2021 to 2022.

In addition to Lloyd’s situation, the Packers have also announced that rookie guard Jordan Morgan will miss Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears due to a shoulder injury. Defensive lineman Colby Wooden is listed as doubtful, while cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Evan Williams are both considered questionable for the upcoming game. Notably, both Alexander and Williams were absent in the Packers’ recent loss to the Detroit Lions, which ended with a score of 24-14 on November 3.