GREEN BAY – Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he had plans to use running back AJ Dillon in some different ways this year, but he will have to scrap them after Dillon was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Dillon suffered a neck stinger in the team’s joint practice with the Denver Broncos on Aug. 16 and the Packers did not feel comfortable putting Dillon back on the field after further tests were done.

General manager Brian Gutekunst said he was hopeful Dillon would get some good news on tests that haven’t come back yet, but the team was not ready to put Dillon at risk, especially considering it was his second serious nerve injury in less than a year.

If Dillon is cleared to play, he can negotiate an injury settlement with the Packers and become a free agent. He could return to the Packers later in the year if a settlement is done, but it doesn’t appear the Packers are going to take any chances with him this season.

“It’s discouraging because we had a pretty clear vision for what he could do,” LaFleur said. “It wasn’t just going to be as a runner. I thought his versatility was what I was most excited about, just being able to kind of do a lot of different things, in regards to some of the stuff that we did a year ago with him when we had some of our two-halfback sets.

“So, that certainly leaves us with a void. But that’s life in the National Football League. You’ve got to adapt or die, so we better adapt.”

An option the Packers may soon be able to consider for filling that role is rookie MarShawn Lloyd, who has been out since suffering a hamstring injury against Cleveland on Aug. 10. The Packers did not put him on injured reserve, which means he’s getting closer to returning to practice.

However, it’s uncertain whether he’ll be available for the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We’ll see where he’s at,” LaFleur said. “We haven’t practiced for a few days. We’ll get him out there today and see where he’s at, run around. He can handle most (of the) playbook. It’s not like he hasn’t been learning. It’s just the application of taking it from the classroom and applying it in a real game setting, you wish you had a little more exposure.”

LaFleur said he wouldn’t hesitate to bring up either Ellis Merriweather or Nate McCrary from the practice squad to back up Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson.

Here a some other items LaFleur addressed:

Packers will try to acclimate themselves to a night-game schedule
After a light practice Wednesday, LaFleur is conducting a more extensive practice Thursday night inside Lambeau Field.

The idea behind the night practice is to get the team accustomed to a night-game routine. Only one of the Packers’ three preseason games was at night and the opener in São Paulo, Brazil, doesn’t start until 9:15 p.m. local time.

“We’re going to amp it up and practice under the lights and kind of try to mimic what it’s going to feel like to play in Brazil, in regards to just the time, waking up early in the morning, having some meetings,” LaFleur said. “And then letting them get out of here for a little bit and then have a practice.”

Under the collective bargaining agreement, players must have the weekend off between the last preseason game and the first regular-season game. The players will have Friday and Saturday off and then Sunday will be like a Wednesday, which is the first big practice day of a normal week.

The Packers leave for São Paulo on Wednesday and will have a walk-through on Thursday.

Bo Melton and Malik Heath made it difficult for Grant DuBose to earn a roster spot
After being released Tuesday, receiver Grant DuBose was claimed on waivers by the Miami Dolphins, which means he’ll start the season on their 53-man roster.

The Packers felt DuBose was good enough to make their roster, but two of the guys in front of him performed too well and will command the only playing time available.

Both Bo Melton and Malik Heath proved themselves valuable at receiver and special teams last season and refused to budge an inch during training camp.

“You can’t take it for granted,” LaFleur said. “In this league, it’s what have you done for me lately? You’ve got to work and grind to keep your spot. It’s a competitive situation. Some positions are a little more competitive than others just in terms of who we have on our roster.”

LaFleur said he couldn’t have asked for much more from DuBose.

“He’s just a really tough, gritty guy,” he said. “We’re certainly going to miss him, but I’m happy for him to be able to get the opportunity elsewhere.”

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Matt LaFleur’s plans for Packers AJ Dillon scrapped after neck injury