Green Bay Packers' running back Eddie Lacy is taking his recovery from a rather extreme ankle injury literally one step at a time. The running back played in just five games in 2016, rushing for a career-low 360 yards. It appears Lacy is looking to get back to his old self by the time OTAs begin and at the very least wants to be 100 percent by the time the preseason kicks off. In order to do this, Lacy has started running, though he isn't doing it on solid ground just yet. The back posted a short video on his social media page showing him undergoing treatment and rehab in a swimming pool.
You have to walk before you can run
As ESPN points out, Lacy had been spotted outside the Packers facilities in the last few weeks and he seemed to be walking ok once he got his special boot off. Of course, no one had even seen the back so much as jogging since he suffered the injury and it's a safe bet this video is going to be putting some Packers' fans at ease as they see he is indeed progressing. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the video, other than Lacy running under the water, is that the workout is not taking place in Green Bay. It appears this particular workout is happening at Lacy's Alma Mater.
Will he be back?
The biggest question is not Lacy's health for the 2016 season, it's whether he'll be playing in Green Bay.
Lacy is going to be deemed a free agent in about a week's time and it's anyone's guess as to whether or not he will be a Packer. His teammates and head coach appear to want him back, though it will depends quite a bit on whether or not he will indeed be healthy. "I'd love to see Eddie back," coach Mike McCarthy told ESPN earlier this offseason.
"Eddie is going through a medical situation. I clearly understand his contract situation, so that's really something we'll continue to work through." It certainly appears that when he is healthy, the running back is as effective as ever. Before he suffered his injury he was averaging 5.1 yards per carry. If he had kept up that pace, Lacy would have easily reached career highs in numbers as a running back.