Posted August 21, 2025

The preseason used to be mundane. Before, you’d just check the paper to see if anything of note happened, hope for no injuries, and move on. With the trimmed schedule, staffs lean harder into August reps to sharpen live timing for September. Green Bay has no interest in drifting into the regular season with rust.

Naturally, when the starters hit the bench, down-roster players get to shine and make their roster cases. This August, it’s an undrafted rookie running back turning heads at Lambeau: Amar Johnson.

Johnson arrived as a UDFA on May 2 out of South Dakota State, where he piled up more than 3,100 rushing yards and 28 TDs. Nothing was handed to him—only a playbook and a shot.

Taking the Long Way

Week 1 vs. the Jets, the spotlight finally found him. Trailing late, Johnson set up and then broke a 39-yard touchdown—Green Bay’s lone trip to the end zone—finishing the night with 7 carries for 67 yards and the first Lambeau Leap of the season. It didn’t change the result, but it changed the conversation. 

Showing Out the Next Weekend

Seven days later at Indianapolis, he did it again—this time to tie the game 16–16 with a physical 9-yard TD run in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for Sean Clifford’s winner in a 23–19 comeback. One week, one role. The next week, a bigger one. That’s how August jobs are won. 

Up next: the last audition—Seahawks at Packers, Saturday, Aug. 23 (kickoff 3:00 p.m. CDT) at Lambeau Field. For the staff, it’s the final look at the bottom of the depth chart. For Johnson, it’s another chance to make the numbers impossible to ignore.

Cutdown day is coming fast—Tuesday, Aug. 26 (by 4:00 p.m. ET). Clipboards, grades, and tough calls. For Green Bay, it’s a roster exercise. For Amar Johnson, it’s the moment a summer spark can become a seat in the room