Eddie Lacy could be out several weeks, so what the heck do the Packers do?
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has a left ankle injury, and he didn’t practice Tuesday. Indications from multiple reports suggest that not only will be a stretch for him to play on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears, but he could be out several weeks.
That’s tough news for a team that’s severely lacking in depth at the position. Backup James Starks could be out a month or more with a knee injury, and it will be hard for Knile Davis, who was picked up via trade Tuesday from the Kansas City Chiefs, can absorb a playbook in the matter of a few days.
UPDATE: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday night that Lacy could miss more time than just this Thursday’s game. Rapoport tweeted that the Packers are expecting to be without the running back for several weeks, adding that his injury is “more than a sprained ankle.”
The Packers resorted to using receivers Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery in the backfield on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and might have to employ that strategy again in the short week. Don Jackson, the only other back on the team, remains on the practice squad for now but could be elevated to the 53-man roster prior to game time.
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So how do the Packers navigate this concern? They’re coming off a game in which Aaron Rodgers and his receivers were not meshing and hitting on big plays in the passing game in a loss to the Cowboys. This has not been a consistently explosive offense overall since early last season.
Davis could be given a package of plays to master for this game, and fullback Aaron Ripkowski could be used as an “ace” back as well. He has a mere three carries this season (and in his career), but they’ve all come the past two games. Clearly, Rodgers will need to step up his accuracy and playmaking, and he might also have to do so with some questionable pass protection from his backs.
Lacy will be missing an opponent in the Bears whom he’s done great work against in his career. In six career games against the Bears, he has rushed for 504 yards and four touchdowns and has caught 12 passes for 142 yards and two more scores. Lacy totaled 238 yards and two scores in two games against them in 2015.
But the bigger concern is for the long term. Will he return in a month? Before the end of the season? To have a position of strength suddenly turn into one of a major question mark is just the latest blow for a Packers team that has not looked right for a shockingly long time now.
It’s the Patriots, and everyone else: Week 6 recap
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
