Breaking News: Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach Matt LaFleur named three incredible players to exit the club as he plans on restructuring……Read more

Running back Emanuel Wilson of the Green Bay Packers, who was once buried on the depth chart during the spring and was viewed as a long shot to make the team, has now surfaced as a legitimate weapon for head coach Matt LaFleur, behind starter Josh Jacobs.

Wilson ranks third in total yards (142) and second in touches (25) among the Packers’ offensive linemates through three games. Who would have thought? Sunday marked Wilson’s breakthrough performance as the Packers defeated the Tennessee Titans 30-14. Wilson also set a new career high for total yards (85). In Week 1, Wilson ignited the Packers offense with two scoring drives of more than ten runs in the first half.

Wilson has a genuine chance to establish himself as the real No. 2 running back in Green Bay for 2024 with third-round selection Lloyd on short-term injured reserve and out for at least three weeks and veteran A.J. Dillon on season-long injured reserve. And he’s making the most of it to begin the season.

Wilson has only had 21 carries, but already he has gained six first downs, five forced missed tackles, and three runs of more than ten yards. His average per carry is 5.0. His running success percentage of 57.1 percent ranks him 11th out of all running backs with at least 15 carries in the current season.

On Sunday, he also scored a touchdown throw of thirty yards on a swing screen, showcasing his quickness and vision as an open-field runner. His pass protection, which is typically a tough area for rookie backs to develop, is noticeably stronger in 2024.

In fact, through three weeks, Wilson is ranked sixth among running backs at Pro Football Focus in terms of pass protection grade. Even though the sample size is tiny, he has produced forceful and astute blocks this season, blitzing on three separate occasions on four pass-blocking attempts. One such block last Sunday allowed Malik Willis to hustle for a first down.

Perhaps as a result of Jacobs carrying the ball 32 times in Week 2, Wilson and Jacobs shared most of the snaps on Sunday in Nashville’s intense heat. Wilson played 26 snaps on the field compared to 33 by Jacobs. Splitting touches and reps for running backs has been LaFleur’s preferred approach as a playcaller to keep the position dynamic and healthy.

Wilson is making it simpler for the Packers to execute that split.

Wilson is a large back with a strong burst, just like Jacobs. He exhibits remarkable contact balance when sprinting quickly. He’s gone from being an enticing running prospect to a genuine all-around contributor in an NFL system because to his improvements in the throwing game.

Another huge runner with an explosive burst, Lloyd is a third-round choice that the Packers still like. However, Wilson’s arrival at the beginning of 2024 has made it possible for the Packers to succeed at running back without Dillon and Lloyd behind Jacobs. Wilson’s early-season performance is probably not a fluke; he appears to be a three-down contributor for LaFleur and the potent Packers offense.

Visit Packers Wire and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to read all of the finest Packers coverage.