The Green Bay Packers defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-10 in their first NFL preseason game of 2024. The win featured many fantastic performances from numerous young players, including second-year wide receiver Grant DuBose, who led the Packers in receptions (five) and receiving yards (66). His performance has led many to debate which wide receiver could be the odd man out once the 53-man roster deadline comes.

Indeed, Green Bay has an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position with six or seven players that could easily be a part of any NFL roster. However, that position battle is not the only one going on, nor is it the most intriguing.

The Green Bay Packers Need to Figure Out Who the Backup Running Back Will Be

As many fans are aware, the Packers made some significant changes to their running back room over the course of the offseason. First, they signed free agent Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing champion, to a four-year $48 million contract. Then, they released Aaron Jones, the third-leading rusher in franchise history and who ended the 2023 season with five-consecutive 100+ yard rushing games (including the Playoffs).

Green Bay also drafted USC running back Marshawn Lloyd in the third round, obviously intending for him to be a part of their team for the foreseeable future.

The Packers also re-signed 2020 second round pick AJ Dillon to an extremely team-friendly contract that will cost them less than $2 million on the salary cap. They also are bringing back Emanuel Wilson, who made the team last year as an undrafted free agent.

AJ Dillon Has Been the Green Bay Packers’ Backup Running Back for the Past Three Seasons

As mentioned, the Packers drafted Dillon in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent the first season of his NFL career behind Jones and former Packers running back Jamaal Williams on the depth chart.

In 2021, though, Green Bay chose not to re-sign Williams and Dillon became the primary backup running back. He thrived in his first year playing full-time, accumulating 1,116 all-purpose yards while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. He and Jones became one of the few duos in NFL history to each have over 1,000 all-purpose yards in a season.

The next season, Dillon took a bit of a step back but was still productive. He had 976 all-purpose yards while averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He also had seven rushing touchdowns.

However, last year was not a good year for Dillon in any way. He had 836 all-purpose yards while averaging a pitiful 3.4 yards per carry. Thrust into the starting six games due to Jones’ injuries, Dillon struggled to break tackles and pick up first downs on short-yardage situations. For a so-called power back, this presented a serious problem.

When he became a free agent at the end of the season, many assumed the team would not bring him back.

Green Bay Packers Fans Want AJ Dillon Cut After Poor Game vs the Cleveland Browns

The Packers, though, did bring Dillon back on the aforementioned team-friendly deal. However, he is not being handed the role of Jacobs’ backup just because of his experience. He has to earn it, and he did little to do so against the Browns.

Dillon rushed four times and picked up just two yards, averaging 0.5 yards per carry. While his low usage may point to the fact that the coaching staff does not want to risk his getting hurt because they want him on the team, it is noteworthy that he was outperformed by Wilson, who led the Packers with 13 carries and 67 yards.

During and after the game, Packers fans called for the team to release Dillon, who has started 11 games in four years:

It is worth noting that Lloyd had to leave the game with a hamstring injury. This is his second injury of training camp as he missed some time earlier with a hip issue.

Dillon, though, cannot rely on the injuries of others to make the roster. Lloyd will be around for the short-term future while he is on a one-year contract.

The 2020 second round pick has to have better production, or he may find himself on a different team.