Since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury in Week 6 quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the Packers leading rusher. He has consistently gained yardage averaging 6.2 yards a carry and saved drives by making 20 first downs most on third down.
However, last week in the win over the Eagles Rodgers tweaked his hamstring, so his mobility will be restricted leaving the ground game up to the halfback James Starks, tailback/slot back Ty Montgomery, fullback Aaron Ripkowski and halfback Christine “A Boy Named Sue” Michael.
Starks is beginning to show signs of life with 41 yards on 17 carries against the Eagles for 2.8 yards a carry after beginning the season with the worst statistics of his career averaging just 1.8 yards. Starks had some good runs, but he needs to do more this week.
Montgomery is the leading rusher besides Rodgers with 147 yards and 5.1 yards a carry and Ripkowski is beginning to show some rushing ability averaging 3.8 yards a carry while pushing the pile and scoring the first rushing TD by someone not named Aaron Rodgers.
Michael is an interesting case. He was picked up off waivers from the Seahawks where he was averaging 4.0 yards a carry while rushing for 469 yards with 6 TDs. However entering his third week with the Packers he has carried the ball only once for 4 yards for a team that needs a competent running back in the worst way. Maybe this week they will unleash the Mini-Beast considering that’s why they claimed him, but logic has never been a longsuit with Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers and the Packers offense is getting a break because the resurgent Jadeveon Clowney, who was filling in nicely since J.J. Watt went down, is out with elbow and wrist injuries. He has started all 11 games this season after missing the majority of his rookie season and three games last year after micro-knee surgery.
On the injury front missing for the Packers from the offense are the "Initial Twins" center J.C. Tretter and right guard T.J. Lang once again. Corey Linsley has returned to the lineup and seems to have not missed a beat at center while rookie 2nd round draft pick Jason Spriggs took over for Don Barclay, who was playing for Lang, and it seems might have found his position.
Lang is going to be let go after the season by the penny-pinching Ted Thompson, so don’t be surprised if Spriggs remains at right guard for the rest of the season.
Defensively, the news isn’t good. Damarious Randall returned to the lineup last week and while he was rusty, as some are saying, or just playing like he did before he suffered a groin injury, got beat again last week, but having him back was a major plus anyway.
In his first game back Randall was the leader in tackles with seven and had one pass defensed. However, it seems he re-injured his groin and is questionable this week.
The Packers secondary is a liability, but the Texans are not a good passing team. However, saying that means nothing since every ordinary neverwas and hasbeen are All-Pros against Dom Capers’ defense.
The rest of the injury news is outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell is out with a hamstring while Clay Matthews (shoulder), Jake Ryan (ankle) and Blake Martinez (knee) are questionable.
Demetri Goodson was finally put on injured reserve after two weeks as Thompson continues to sleep through the season. Undrafted free agent cornerback Makinton Dorleant was activated from injured reserve to take his place. More of the same from the Thompsonater.
For the rest of the season the Packers are going to have out-score the opposition and let’s hope Rodgers is not severely limited in his mobility because we are going to have to have him ready to use all his talents if the Packers are going to make the playoffs.
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