In a somewhat surprising move, the Green Bay Packers have activated running back James Starks from the physically unable to perform list.
Starks, who the Packers chose in the sixth round of this year’s draft, was in the same boat as Atari Bigby and Al Harris. The Packers had to activate him, cut him or put him on injured reserve this week, as he’s been practicing with the team for the past three weeks.
Bigby was activated Saturday and Harris was cut Monday. Most people assumed Starks would be placed on injured reserve, considering he hasn’t played a game of football since his junior year at Buffalo. Starks missed all of his senior season with a shoulder injury. He’s been out with a hamstring injury since May, meaning he didn’t participate in training camp or the majority of the Packers offseason activities.
It’s unclear whether Starks will be able to contribute anytime soon, but he’s entering a pretty crowded backfield with Brandon Jackson, John Kuhn and Dmitri Nance at halfback and Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson at fullback.
Starks is Buffalo’s all-time leading rusher, amassing 3,140 yards in three seasons.
To make room for Starks, the Packers released linebacker Robert Francois, who played in three games as a special teamer. If Francois clears waivers, the Packers will re-sign him to the practice squad.
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the buffalo bills should not be tagged in this
They’re not.
Oh my bad, it does say bulls
It looks like Starks is in a Buffalo BULLS jersey. That must have been the college team he played for his Junior year.
Starks must be able to contribute or we wouldn’t have activated him. I, also, am surprised at this. If he has some speed, we could use him on our special teams.
Did anyone consider this guy as a possible KR/PR?? He’s got good hands playing basketball alongside Johnny Flynn of the T-Bags, er I mean T-Wolves.
A solid move,watch how he opens the screen game for us now and likely KRs.
Good move…makes sense.
eh….they must have done it for ST reasons. Nance hasn’t seen much action running the ball. Why would we assume that Starks should get some carries?
BJ and Kuhn aren’t getting a ton of carries, either. Here’s hoping that if he does get some touches, that he is the second coming of Ryan Grant and makes an immediate contribution.