The Green Bay Packers may have quietly built one of the most underrated running back rooms in the entire NFL — and the craziest part is that the player suddenly generating the most excitement isn’t even Josh Jacobs.

Instead, all the attention is starting to shift toward a name most casual NFL fans barely even know:

Chris Brooks.

And according to the growing buzz coming out of Green Bay, Brooks may secretly be the glue holding the entire backfield together.

At first glance, that sounds ridiculous. Brooks has never been marketed as a star, never carried the hype of a featured running back, and certainly doesn’t receive the national attention Jacobs gets. But internally, the Packers coaching staff reportedly values him far more than outsiders realize because of one simple reason: he can do almost everything.

The numbers backing him up are honestly shocking.

Last season, Brooks quietly led Green Bay in yards after contact per attempt with 3.7 — higher than Josh Jacobs and even higher than Emanuel Wilson. That statistic alone completely changes the perception many fans had about him. For months, Brooks was viewed mostly as a pass-protection specialist or a depth piece who could occasionally catch passes out of the backfield. But according to the breakdown, the tape tells a very different story. Brooks reportedly runs with far more physicality than people realize, consistently fighting through contact and extending plays after defenders hit him.

And then there’s the area where coaches seem to absolutely love him:

Pass protection.

According to the analysis, Brooks has become one of the most trusted protectors in Green Bay’s offense. The report repeatedly emphasized how much Jordan Love trusts Brooks to keep him clean in the pocket, especially in shotgun formations and passing situations. Coaches reportedly view his understanding of protections and blocking assignments as elite for a running back.

The advanced grades are even crazier.

Brooks received an 86.9 run-blocking grade last season, ranking second among all NFL running backs in run blocking. Add that to his ability to carry the football, catch passes, and line up in multiple formations, and suddenly the Packers’ confidence in him starts making a lot more sense.

In fact, the growing belief inside Green Bay is that the Packers intentionally moved on from Emanuel Wilson because they want Chris Brooks playing a much larger role in 2026.

And that completely changes the conversation surrounding the running back room.

Because while Brooks is becoming the reliable do-everything veteran presence, the true wildcard remains MarShawn Lloyd — the former third-round pick whose career has been almost completely derailed by injuries so far.

The talent has never been questioned.

At 5-foot-8 and roughly 220 pounds, Lloyd reportedly looks like a “bowling ball” on the field while still carrying explosive speed, including a 4.46 forty-yard dash coming out of college. Coaches have repeatedly praised his burst and acceleration, with Matt LaFleur once describing him as “a little rocket” in the backfield.

But none of that matters if he can’t stay healthy.

According to the report, Green Bay is currently in full wait-and-see mode with Lloyd after multiple injury setbacks early in his career. The Packers reportedly remain optimistic because Lloyd recently underwent treatment programs similar to the recovery process that helped revive Christian Watson from his own soft-tissue problems. Inside the organization, there’s growing hope that if Watson’s issues could be corrected, Lloyd’s long-term muscle imbalance and durability concerns can be fixed too.

And if that happens?

The Packers backfield could suddenly become terrifying.

Because the vision is becoming clear: Josh Jacobs handling the heavy workload, Chris Brooks functioning as the versatile glue piece in protection packages and short-yardage situations, and MarShawn Lloyd bringing explosive change-of-pace speed that defenses struggle to contain.

But Green Bay’s depth story doesn’t end there.

One player quietly becoming a cult favorite among Packers analysts is former Miami Hurricanes football running back Damen Martinez. While most fans barely noticed when Green Bay added him, evaluators inside the report spoke about him like a hidden gem waiting to explode.

According to their internal grading system, Martinez actually carried a late third-round to early fourth-round value coming out of college, far higher than where many public draft boards placed him. Analysts specifically praised his violent running style, with comparisons being made stylistically to a young Isiah Pacheco because of the way he attacks defenders with heavy, angry footwork.

The expectation right now is that Martinez likely begins on the practice squad if the running back room stays healthy. But internally, there’s obvious excitement about developing him as a potential future contributor once injuries inevitably start affecting the roster later in the season.

Meanwhile, other names like Pierre Strong Jr. and undrafted rookie Jaden Nixon appear to be fighting uphill battles simply to survive roster cuts. The report made it pretty clear that neither player is currently viewed as a major factor in the Packers’ long-term plans unless something changes dramatically during training camp.

Which brings everything back to one fascinating conclusion:

The Green Bay Packers aren’t panicking about their running back room at all.

In fact, they may secretly believe they already have the perfect formula.

A healthier Josh Jacobs.

A versatile and trusted Chris Brooks.

A high-upside MarShawn Lloyd finally returning healthy.

And a darkhorse bruiser like Damen Martinez waiting in the shadows.

If those pieces come together the way Green Bay hopes, this backfield could quietly become one of the biggest surprises in the NFL next season.