DENVER – NFL preseason statistics may not be official, but good luck telling MarShawn Lloyd that.
Not after the Packers running back zigged right and found daylight on his way to the first touchdown of Green Bay's eventual 33-13 rout of the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Beyond putting an exclamation point on a 12-play, 65-yard opening scoring drive for the starting offense, it also marked the first time Lloyd has reached the end zone since his senior year in college at USC, against Oregon on Nov. 11, 2023.
That's a span of 1,014 days.
After a rash of soft-tissue injuries sidelined the uber-talented running back during his first two seasons in Green Bay, Lloyd has continued to stack positive days this summer.
Now, he has the touchdown to show for it.
"It was special. It was fun," Lloyd said. "It's been three years since I even touched the end zone. I've been in the end zone in practice (but) in a game, it's different. It was fun. They had their starters out there. It was fun to get those good reps."
With quarterback Jordan Love leading the way, the Packers ran most of their starting offense out against Denver's No. 1 defense on the opening drive.
Five different players touched the ball on the series, with receiver Matthew Golden converting a key fourth-and-1 with a 19-yard crosser to the Broncos' 20-yard line.
Lloyd converted a key third-and-1 on a stretch run and then finished the scoring drive when he ran a choice route out of the backfield and cut inside the linebacker's leverage for the score.
"Just trust my training," Lloyd said. "It's a choice route, so you either break in or break out. Because of his leverage, I was able to break in. He gave up everything inside and once I went inside there was no one there. I was able to get into the end zone."
Lloyd played three series, gaining 17 yards on six carries. All in all, it was productive day for a Green Bay offense that totaled 299 yards and 22 first downs.
"I think we did a good job," Lloyd said. "We took care of the ball really well. There's things we for sure have to work on and fix but starting the game I think we did pretty good as far as protecting the ball and taking what we can."
Another perfect evening: The thin Denver air was no match for Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack, who made all four of his field-goal attempts.
The first three came in a power-packed second quarter for Green Bay, with Smack making kicks from 51, 59 and 43 yards. He later tacked on a 38-yard field goal inside the final two minutes.
It was the building-block performance Smack was seeking after going three-for-three last week in Pittsburgh, including a 58-yarder.
"I feel good," Smack said. "I don't want to get too high on it. I know you gotta stay locked in in this business and you can't get complacent with yourself. Just trying to improve every week."
True to form, Smack wasn't taking any victory laps after another strong performance. Instead, he was lamenting the one kickoff he hit for a touchback in the first quarter.
"I just tapped the ball on kickoff, and it went a mile," Smack said. "That's why my first one was a touchback. I'm still mad about that. I'm more upset about that."
Strong style: Pierre Strong Jr. continues to state his case for a roster spot with both his play on offense and special teams.
The fourth-year running back made arguably the biggest play of Friday night when he opened the second quarter with a 68-yard kickoff return to the Broncos' 32-yard line.
Strong sensed an explosive opportunity coming after the Packers' kick return team missed one inside block on his first return, which went for 24 yards. The second time Green Bay sealed it and Strong nearly scored.
"I knew once we made that one block I was gonna (get through)," Strong said. "Open field, felt great. Just the kicker, make him miss. I gotta score but it is what it is."
Strong also led Green Bay's backfield with eight carries for 37 yards to finish with 135 all-purpose yards. As a unit, Green Bay produced 119 yards on three kickoff returns and another 20 on punts.
"Some coaches say you gotta be special players to play special teams," Strong said. "Doing whatever Coach asks me to do and get on special teams, man. Because not everybody's good at special teams."
Sheppard's snag: Will Sheppard knew he dragged the toe on his 2-yard touchdown catch near the sideline in the second quarter.
That didn't make time pass any faster, though, while the Packers receiver anxiously waited for an official ruling from the referees.
"One ref was about to signal touchdown, and the other one was saying incomplete," said Sheppard, who finished with a game-high six catches for 47 yards. "Finally saw it on the big board. It was a good feeling, though."
Perry's pick: In the final stretch of his third NFL training camp, safety Mark Perry understands the importance of big plays for a former undrafted free agent like himself.
When the opportunity was presented in Denver, Perry jumped a Jarrett Stidham pass in the seam and pulled down a key interception with 45 seconds left in the first half.
Green Bay eventually parlayed the pick into a 43-yard Smack field goal to extend its lead to 23-10 at the break.
"It was a big confidence booster for me," Perry said. "Every day in practice, trying to make the plays that come to you and not chase plays. … I think that was big for me and obviously it juiced the team right before the half, was able to score some points."
