Packers' Eddie Lacy lands on IR, needs surgery on injured ankle
The Green Bay Packers do not yet know if running back Eddie Lacy’s season is over, but the bad news is that he’s out indefinitely, expected to have surgery on his injured ankle soon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first had the news.
Lacy suffered an ankle injury in the Packers’ Week 6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, which leaves them in almost dire shape at the position. James Starks is expected to miss about a month with injury as well.
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That leaves Knile Davis, whom the Packers traded for on Tuesday, and practice squad RB Don Jackson, whom the team is expected to add to the 53-man roster in Lacy’s place, as the only true tailbacks on the roster. Davis had one carry for minus-2 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, and Jackson, an undrafted rookie from Nebraska, has yet to appear in an NFL game.
In fact, Jackson has zero preseason touches to his name — he did not get the ball once in a preseason game. And Davis was GM Ted Thompson’s first player trade in six years, which should have tipped us off earlier in the week to Lacy’s injury not being a short-term deal.
The Packers have used receivers Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery in the backfield this season and could continue doing so. They also have fullback Aaron Ripkowski, who has carried the ball three times in the past two games and could help carry a bit more of the load in spots.
The Packers face the Chicago Bears on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
Lacy could return before the end of the season if his ankle heals quickly. But for now the Packers have their hands full — and their depth chart light — while trying to replace him.
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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!
