The Green Bay Packers will likely start Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bears with a receiver at running back behind Aaron Rodgers.
With Eddie Lacy (ankle) and James Starks (knee) already ruled out, and Knile Davis still learning the offense after a Tuesday trade to Green Bay, the Packers are now in a position where Ty Montgomery—a receiver who played a significant number of snaps in the backfield in Week 6—will be forced to play another big role at running back against the Bears.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky told Mike Clay that Montgomery “will get the majority of the running back reps” on Thursday night.
A second-year receiver from Stanford, Montgomery rushed three times for six yards and lost a fumble against the Cowboys last Sunday. He also caught a career-high 10 passes for 98 yards, with most of his damage coming as a receiver out of the backfield.
On a short week, the Packers don’t have much of a choice but to feature Montgomery in the backfield once again.
Trading for Davis, a castoff from Kansas City, should provide long-term depth at running back. But getting him ready within the offense will take time, and he can’t be expected to play a huge role just two days after being traded to Green Bay.
Lacy and Starks won’t play on Thursday night, and it’s possible neither will be ready to play for at least a few more weeks.
The Packers do have Don Jackson, a rookie running back, on the practice squad.
For now, the Packers will have to get by at an important offensive position with a receiver and a castoff as the only two options on the roster. And this potentially nightmare scenario will play out during a nationally televised game against a division rival, with Rodgers struggling to get the Packers passing offense going.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
