It hasn’t been a year of positives for head coach Mike McCarthy and the NFL’s version of the walking wounded in the Green Bay Packers. Losing star quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 6 at Minnesota was but one of a few crucial moves that have the team with a 5-6 record after 11 contests. The last time the Pack didn’t win at least 10 games in a season was 2013. But that was a year in which Rodgers returned in Week 17 after missing seven games and not only orchestrated a win over the Bears at Soldier Field, but the club’s 8-7-1 mark was enough to win the NFC North.
That doesn’t seem likely this year with the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings and 6-5 Detroit Lions ahead of Green Bay in the standings. But the team got some good news this week when it came to their running game. It’s an area of the team that could propel a late-season sure. First, there was a little Bad News.
Disappointing ending
He was supposed to be the main man in the backfield for the Green Bay Packers this season, but injuries would catch up to Ty Montgomery this year and this past week the organization opted to place him on injured reserve. The three-year pro has a team-high 71 carries, good for 273 yards on the ground and three scores. The former wide receiver also ranks fifth on the club with 23 receptions, good for 173 yards and one touchdown.
Now it will be up to a pair of rookies to take charge of a Packers running game that ranked 22nd in the NFL entering Week 13.
Reinforcements on the comeback trail
Now good news for the defending NFC North champions. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN very early Sunday morning, the second of the Green Bay Packers’ two fifth-round draft choices in April is ready to return to the field.
“Packers’ RB Aaron Jones, questionable for Sunday due to knee injury, is expected to play, per source, but Jamaal Williams still expected to get most of work vs. Bucs.” Despite missing the past two games vs. the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, the former UTEP product still leads the team with 370 yards on the ground, that coming on just 70 carries.
Jones and Montgomery are both tied for the club lead with three rushing touchdowns.
And speaking of 70 attempts, that’s what the Packers have gotten out of fellow rookie Jamaal Williams this season. He’s third on the team with 224 yards rushing and has scored twice. The fourth-round pick has also totaled 13 catches for 152 yards and one score. Having him and Jones back together could be what helps salvage Green Bay’s season in 2017.
