AJ Dillon Lands On Injured Reserve, Out For Season
The Green Bay Packers placed running back AJ Dillon (neck) on injured reserve Tuesday, and he will miss the entire 2024 season. This is a huge blow for the Packers and Dillon's fantasy managers. The 26-year-old was expected to be Green Bay's RB2 behind Josh Jacobs and have a significant role in the team's offense. Dillon had 613 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns over 15 games last season. MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) made the 53-man roster and is expected to back up Jacobs in 2024 with Dillon sidelined.
AJ Dillon Dealing With Stinger Suffered Late In 2023 Season
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon (stinger) is being held out of practice due to a stinger that Dillon suffered toward the end of last season. Per Matt LaFleur, Dillon being held out of practice is for precautionary reasons. With Dillon being held out and backfield mate MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) nursing an injury of his own, the Green Bay backfield has been hit hard with the injury bug. Dillon averaged just 3.4 yards per attempt in his worst season as a pro, with 613 rushing yards on 178 attempts. The role for Dillon is up in the air with Lloyd's injury and Josh Jacobs coming in to be the top running back for the Packers. It's a thin bet to expect Dillon to have a fantasy-friendly role in 2024 outside of injury, so keep him undrafted in fantasy drafts.
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon recorded four carries for two yards in the Packers' preseason opener against the Browns. Dillon entered the game with the second offense on the Packers' second drive. He appears to be in position to be the Packers' No. 2 running back to start the season. However, Dillon continued the inefficient running he displayed in 2023. With rookie MarShawn Lloyd's (hamstring) status uncertain moving forward, Dillon may be able to hold the job for now.
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon, who had a highly disappointing 2023 campaign for the Packers, has apparent reported to training camp in great shape. "This is THE best I've seen him. Hands down," head coach Matt LaFleur said. It's that time of the year when tons of best-shape-of-my-life stories start to surface. Take it with a grain of salt. The 26-year-old Dillon has plenty of motivation to improve this summer after averaging a weak 3.4 yards per carry on his 178 rushing attempts last year. The former second-rounder is on notice after the Packers drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round in April, so he may need a strong camp and preseason to avoid opening the regular season as the RB3 in Green Bay. Dillon's performance this summer will be something to watch, but after last season, he's off the fantasy radar in 12-team leagues.
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon "knows he isn't assured a roster spot" heading into the 2024 season, according to Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. While the Packers parted with Aaron Jones this offseason, they replaced him with Josh Jacobs and also drafted MarShawn Lloyd in the third round. Thus, with a crowded backfield, the Packers may need Dillon to go above and beyond this summer in order to keep him on their roster ahead of Week 1. As Wilde notes, though, Dillon is aware of his job insecurity and has put in tremendous work this offseason. "This is as hard as I've seen him work in the offseason," running backs coach Ben Sirmans noted. If Dillon does make the roster, he'll be nothing more than a low-end RB3/FLEX option in fantasy football as he operates behind Jacobs and competes with Lloyd for touches. On the other hand, Green Bay does have some incentive to move on from the Boston College product. Dillon is currently on a one-year prove-it deal, and releasing him would create $1,125,000 in cap space for the Packers while carrying just $167,500 in dead money. This will be a roster battle that all fantasy managers should monitor over the next month-plus.
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon was once viewed as a future breakout star in fantasy football, but his disastrous 2023 campaign and the addition of rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd have his value at an all-time low. The Boston College product rushed 178 times for 613 yards and two touchdowns last year, and his 3.4-yards-per-carry average was by far the worst of his career. However, heading into his fifth NFL training camp, the 26-year-old is reportedly in the best shape of his life. "Dillon is looking more trim this offseason while still maintaining his muscle mass," Paul Bretl of ESPN wrote. "The result appears to be a more explosive version of Dillon, which the Packers need." While it's a great sign that Dillon is motivated for a bounce-back year, he could be approaching fantasy irrelevance. Josh Jacobs is the clear lead back, while Lloyd is an explosive rusher and pass-catcher that Green Bay will likely feature in the RB2 role. Deep-league fantasy managers can still consider picking him up in the late rounds of drafts, as he could become a viable flex option if Lloyd disappoints and Jacobs struggles to stay healthy.
The Green Bay Packers officially re-signed running back AJ Dillon on Friday. Dillon was originally selected by the Packers in the second round (62nd overall) in 2020 out of Boston College. He has played in 60 games (11 starts) for the team during the regular season and has compiled 2,428 yards on 597 carries (4.1 yards per carry) with 16 touchdowns while recording 86 receptions for 763 yards (8.9 yards per catch) with two touchdowns. The 25-year-old had a career-low 3.4 yards per carry in 15 regular-season games (six starts) in Green Bay in 2023 and failed to take advantage of Aaron Jones missing some time with injuries. Dillon missed the final three games due to a neck stinger, but he should be fully healthy for the start of the 2024 season this fall, where he'll be back as the No. 2 RB behind newcomer Josh Jacobs.
Free-agent running back AJ Dillon is expected to re-sign with the Green Bay Packers on an undisclosed deal, pending a physical, according to sources. Dillon will return to the organization that selected him with their second-round pick in 2020 out of Boston College. The 25-year-old had more of an opportunity to pick up extra touches in Green Bay's backfield with Aaron Jones missing some time with injury, but he failed to take advantage of it and finished with a career-low 3.4 yards per carry on 178 rushing attempts. Dillon had a disappointing 613 rushing yards and only two touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (six starts). Jones is now in Minnesota, but Dillon will return to the Packers to play second fiddle to Josh Jacobs now.
Free-agent running back AJ Dillon has several options in free agency outside of the Green Bay Packers, with sources saying that he's looking at the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys. The Giants lost Saquon Barkley to the division-rival Eagles, but they also recently added Devin Singletary to be their lead back. The Colts are looking for a complement to starter Jonathan Taylor after Zack Moss signed with the Bengals. The Cowboys, who lost Tony Pollard to the Titans, would be the best fit for Dillon from a playing-time perspective. the 25-year-old former second-round pick in 2020 out of Boston College had a career-low 3.4 yards per carry in 15 regular-season games for Green Bay last year and hasn't proven that he can handle a lead-back role in his four years in the NFL.
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon might've played his last season with the organization. Dillon is set to become a free agent this offseason and it doesn't sound like the organization is too eager to bring Dillon back next season. The former second-round pick struggled to establish himself during his contract season. Dillon rushed 178 times for 613 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games. Dillon received plenty of chances with fellow back Aaron Jones missing six games. Despite the extra attempts, Dillon averaged a career-low 3.4 yards per carry. He should have plenty of interest as a backup, but Dillon will have a tough time finding himself a lead back role heading into next season.
