Emanuel Wilson might be a critical depth component for the Packers’ youthful core as they climb to the top of the NFC and compete for a Super Bowl.
The Green Bay Packers have retained former Johnson C. Smith and Fort Valley State running back Emanuel Wilson on their roster. Wilson had exclusive free agency rights with the Packers, which meant he couldn’t deal with other teams. According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, they repatriated him and punter Daniel Whelan under those rights. Despite his failure to negotiate with others, the HBCU product won a sizable payday: he signed a one-year contract worth $915,000, according to Spotrac, a sports contract monitoring website.
After college, Emanuel Wilson signed with the Denver Broncos during training camp. He finally made the Green Bay Packers’ roster, serving as a backup to second-string running back AJ Dillon and Pro Bowl player Aaron Jones. Wilson didn’t get a lot of playing time this season, but he still delivered when given the chance. Wilson had four carries for 43 yards, including a 31-yard burst, in the Packers’ 20-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams, his best game of the rookie season.
Wilson met with media prior to the Packers’ final game of the season against the Chicago Bears, which had significant playoff implications for Green Bay. Reporters questioned Wilson’s lack of opportunities following Jones’ injury.
“He just instructed me to keep ready, so that’s all that matters,” he explained. “It was tough because it was my chance to go out there and show that I could play. I mean, that circumstance was difficult for me. I cried that day. I was alright the next day since I knew I would have another opportunity. It’ll be amazing since my family will be able to watch me play. “They have been waiting for it.”
Following Dillon’s injury, the Fort Valley State graduate had a larger workload in the playoffs. Wilson had eight carries against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card game, gaining 20 yards. In the Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers, he carried four times for 16 yards. He also caught an 11-yard pass from the backfield. One of Wilson’s runs in that game became a highlight as he jumped over a 49er defender.
Prior to his big moment in the NFL Playoffs, Wilson was a two-year running back at Fort Valley State. Wilson rushed for 2,086 yards and 22 touchdowns over 16 games. His final season in 2022 was particularly outstanding, as he carried for over 1,200 yards and scored 15 times. He also emerged as a more dynamic receiver in 2022, catching 20 catches for 187 yards with two touchdowns. Wilson began his academic career at Johnson C. Smith before moving to Fort Valley State. In his only season in 2019, he carried 159 times for 1,040 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also grabbed 13 passes totaling 86 yards.
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