Legendary Packers fullback Taylor dies

Jim Taylor, the ferocious Hall of Fame fullback who embodied the Green Bay Packers’ unstoppable ground game during the Vince Lombardi era and helped the team win four NFL titles and the first Super Bowl, died Saturday. He was 83.

He died unexpectedly at a hospital in his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the team said.

Taylor played on the great Packer teams and was the league’s MVP in 1962. He scored the first rushing touchdown in Super Bowl history and was voted into the Hall in 1976.

Taylor spent 10 seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the second round out of Louisiana State in 1958. He was part of a backfield that featured Paul Hornung and began to thrive when Lombardi took over in 1959.

“He was a gritty, classic player on the Lombardi teams and a key figure of those great championship runs,” Packers President Mark Murphy said.

“One of the best runners of his era, he later was greatly appreciated by multiple generations of Packers fans during his many returns to Lambeau Field with his fellow alumni.”

■ Packers: Green Bay said starting receivers Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are questionable for Monday night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Both wideouts have hamstring injuries.

■ 49ers: San Francisco running back Matt Breida is questionable for Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers because of shoulder and ankle injuries.

■ Browns: Cleveland signed free agent Breshad Perriman to address its shortage at wide receiver. Perriman was the No. 26 overall pick in 2015. But injuries and inconsistency have slowed his career.

Preston Stroup The Associated Press Green Bay Packers fullback Jim Taylor (31) is brought down by Detroit Lions’ Dick Lane on Nov. 22, 1962, in Detroit. The Hall of Fame fullback died early Saturday, the Packers announced.