The Green Bay Packers have had just two running backs since they released Jhurell Pressley about a week after signing him. We told you the Packers’ lack of depth at running back was a problem and needed to be addressed. Some of you disagreed, but boy, does not having depth there look even stupider now.
Eddie Lacy is dealing with a bum ankle and his status for Sunday is unclear, despite him saying he expected to play this week. Lacy didn’t practice on Wednesday and guess who else didn’t practice on Wednesday.
If you said backup running back James Starks, then go ahead and pat yourself on the back!
While Lacy appeared at practice in order to stand around and watch, Starks was nowhere to be found. He was listed with a knee injury and typically when guys are sequestered somewhere during practice, that means their injury is fairly severe. The player is likely doing some sort of testing or rehab, rather than just resting as Lacy was doing.
Now, we don’t know much about Starks’ injury. Unlike Lacy, he actually finished the win over the Giants.
But here’s the nightmare scenario we suggested could play out looking like it might play out. Both Lacy and Starks sit with injury and then what?
Are the Packers going to hand it to fullback Aaron Ripkowski 20 times on Sunday? No, they’re not.
Are they going to keep trying to pretend Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery are running backs? We wouldn’t doubt it, although we find those packages completely idiotic because they haven’t produced jack this season.
More than likely, you’d see all three of those guys lined up in the backfield at one time or another and they’d probably combine for 15 total carries. That, of course, would give McCarthy an excuse to throw the ball 50-plus times with his below-mediocre quarterback.
And that, my friends, is a recipe for total disaster.
So once again, Green Bay Packers, maybe it’s time to address that running back depth.