MarShawn Lloyd’s long-awaited return to action scuttled by appendicitis

The Green Bay Packers running back, on the precipice of returning to action for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, suffered appendicitis on Friday and was set to undergo an emergency appendectomy.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” dumbfounded Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said.

Lloyd, a third-round draft pick from USC, had dealt with injuries since before training camp began in July and had been marooned on injured reserve since Sept. 17. But his luck seemed to finally be turning.

The Packers had opened the 21-day practice window for him to return to action on Monday, and he’d participated in Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices without incident.

But on Friday morning, Lloyd was in the team’s Lambeau Field training room with the medical staff getting ready for practice when he mentioned to vice president of player health and performance Bryan “Flea” Engel and director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Nate Weir that he felt abdominal pain.

Moments later, he was on his way to a local hospital and being prepped for surgery.

“It’s a shame because he was making progress,” LaFleur said. “But he’ll rebound. I’m confident in that. That’s what I told him. But it is a shame, certainly.

“He was getting up off the table. He asked Nate and Flea to check his abdomen because he felt some pain. They sent him in and, sure enough, that’s what it is.

LaFleur texted Lloyd after the diagnosis but had yet to speak with Lloyd when he addressed reporters during his customary post-practice Friday Q&A session.

Lloyd had started training camp on the non-football injury list with an offseason hip injury, then was sidelined for the back half of camp and the Sept. 6 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil because of a hamstring injury he suffered in his lone preseason appearance.

He then hurt his ankle in his NFL debut against the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 15, when he carried six times for 15 yards while backing up veteran running back Josh Jacobs. He landed on IR two days later and has been there ever since.

Both the hamstring and the ankle injury were listed on the injury report before Friday’s news about the appendicitis.

The Packers were set to add Lloyd to the 53-man roster before the NFL’s Saturday afternoon to play against the Bears, as they had an open roster spot after trading defensive end Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

“I can’t wait to get him back in the fold,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich had said on Thursday. “Obviously, with the bye week, you go back and self-scout (and) watch all the old film that you had from the year. And the one game that he played you just saw his explosive potential — his quickness, his receiving ability.”

Now, the team is looking to the NFL office for help with what to do with Lloyd moving forward.

Teams are only allotted eight regular-season chances to designate players to return from injured reserve, and Lloyd had been the second player to be so designated, after defensive tackle Jonathan Ford returned to action last month.

When former Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari underwent an emergency appendectomy late in the 2022 season, he missed three games following the surgery.

The Packers will have to decide whether to place Lloyd back on IR and if so, will he count against the team’s eight allowed return designations a second time if they try to bring him back again?

“I don’t know how that impacts everything. I think that’s something we’re trying to work through right now with the league,” LaFleur said. “I don’t think this has ever happened.”

Without Lloyd, the Packers will go with Jacobs, second-year backup Emanuel Wilson and early-season free-agent pickup Chris Brooks against the Bears.

Jacobs had been looking forward to Lloyd’s return as much as anyone, having mentored him all season — including driving him to practice every day to support him in his recovery from his injuries.

“Coming in as a rookie, man, it’s hard,” Jacobs said earlier in the week. “He got a little down when he got hurt again (against the Colts). He’s like, ‘Man, I’m dealing with this again.’ I just told him, ‘Man, be patient. When your time comes, just let your presence be felt. You can only control what you can control.’

“He’s going to be a good running back in this league. I’m excited to see him go this week.”

Or, not.

Morgan suffers setback

Another highly-touted rookie, the team’s first-round draft pick offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, was ruled out for Sunday’s game after reinjuring his shoulder during practice on Thursday.

Morgan, who hurt the shoulder in training camp and missed all of preseason play, hurt it again in the Indianapolis game and missed the next three games.

Morgan has played in six of the Packers’ nine games so far this season and started the team’s Nov. 3 pre-bye week loss to the Detroit Lions at left guard when center Josh Myers was sidelined with a wrist injury.

What happens next for Morgan is unclear. Morgan could land on injured reserve or, if the shoulder requires surgery, he could be done for the year.

“We’re kind of going through that process right now, of what’s next,” LaFleur said. “We’re just working through it.”

Alexander, Williams questionable

Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and safety Evan Williams (hamstring), who both practiced on a limited basis all three days this week, are officially listed as questionable for Sunday.

Williams left the Packers’ Oct. 27 win at Jacksonville in the first half with his hamstring injury, which he’d felt in pregame warmups, while Alexander left that game after coming up hobbling on the Jaguars’ game-tying touchdown in the closing moments of the fourth quarter.

Defensive lineman Colby Wooden (shoulder) did not practice all week and is officially doubtful.

For the Bears, who placed safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) on injured reserve earlier in the week, starting left guard Teven Jenkins (ankle) and backup left tackle Kiran Amegadjie (calf) are out while starting defensive end Montez Sweat (ankle) and defensive back Tarvarius Moore (concussion) are questionable.