Mike McCarthy admits Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy is 'banged up'
Tuesday 20 October 2015 12:02, UK
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is hopeful “banged up” running back Eddie Lacy can use the team’s bye week to get healthy and make an impact in the second half of the season.
The team enter their bye week with a perfect 6-0 record after defeating the San Diego Chargers on Sunday but a myriad of injuries have led to uncharacteristic struggles on the offensive side of the ball for the Packers.
All-Pro wide receiver Jordy Nelson was ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL in the preseason. Davante Adams has missed time with an ankle injury while fellow receivers Randall Cobb (shoulder) and James Jones (hamstring) have been playing nicked up. TJ Lang (knee) and Bryan Bulaga (knee) have done the same on the offensive line.
Lacy was a standout performer in his first two seasons in the league, totalling 3,001 yards and 24 touchdowns but has struggled to find his form this season.
The 25-year-old - who has rushed for just 260 games and one touchdown in six games - carried the ball a paltry four times, as the Packers went 20 minutes without a first down and ran just 49 plays versus the Chargers' 89.
Lacy's back-up James Starks was given the first carry against San Diego and he made the most of the opportunity as he rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries and also added a receiving touchdown.
McCarthy acknowledged after the game that Lacy is among a number of Packers offensive players playing hurt but said Starks' play had merited getting the start on Sunday.
"It's really no different than the way we've operated," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "We went with James first frankly because he's been playing extremely well, and Eddie's been a little banged-up.
"We didn't have the number of reps. I would have liked to have seen us run the ball a lot more if you were going to draw up the game and play it differently. So that part didn't work out that way, but James obviously had a huge day."
Green Bay has a bye this week before two daunting trips to fellow undefeated teams the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers.
Offensive coordinator Edgar Bennett knows Lacy will be needed for those games and is hopeful he can use his weekend off to heal up.
"Going back to just getting healthy. That's the No 1 thing," Bennett said of Lacy. "Once he comes back [from the Week 7 bye], he'll probably feel a lot better."
