1 Big Question Facing Each Green Bay Packers Player: Running Backs

Can Kylin Hill earn a larger role on the Green Bay Packers?

Prior to his injury last season, Kylin Hill was the third running back on this Packers team–and to no surprise, he saw little action on offense behind Jones and Dillon.

Over four games through Week 7, Hill had just 10 carries and two targets. Now, even if he does assume a larger role this season, “larger” is a relative term–Dillon and Jones are still going to receive the bulk of the touches.

However, if we see more two running back sets, and the Packers relying more heavily on Jones and Dillon — whether that be on the ground or through the air — now that Davante Adams is in Las Vegas, Green Bay should consider deepening their running back rotation to help keep everyone more fresh over the course of the season.

This, of course, would include more opportunities for Hill.

Step one for Hill is to get healthy, but when that time arrives, he could be one player who takes on a larger role within the offense this season.

Can Patrick Taylor force the Green Bay Packers to keep him on the roster?

Depending on when Kylin Hill is ready to return, that RB3 role may be up for grabs, and at least at this point, I would call Patrick Taylor, who is now entering his third year with the Green Bay Packers, the front-runner for that role.

However, what happens when Hill is ready to return? Can Patrick Taylor do enough to show Matt LaFleur and Co. that they should keep him around?

From a fit standpoint, Taylor is a running back who has the ability to thrive in the LaFleur offense. In addition to the normal running back duties, Taylor has shown that he can be a capable pass-catcher during his time at Memphis while also being a willing blocker.

Last season when he saw his first NFL action, Taylor averaged 3.9 yards per carry on the ground on 23 carries but nearly 5.0 yards per rush in Week 18 against Detroit on 11 attempts. He would also rank 32nd out of 159 running backs in PFF’s pass-blocking grade.

When speaking with reporters over the offseason, running backs coach Ben Sirmans mentioned that there are three things he wants to see from Taylor this year–more physicality, more urgency, and more authority with the ball in his hands.

Keeping a fourth running back isn’t unheard of for LaFleur, as he just did it in 2020, and as mentioned when discussing Kylin Hill, it may make more sense this season to have a deeper rotation if the running back position as a whole is going to play a larger role.