Injuries: Packers Have Three Running Backs Out

The biggest story after the Green Bay Packers preseason loss to the Browns is the status of RB Ryan Grant. Mike McCarthy confirmed that Grant suffered a concussion during the game, but he hopes he'll be back at practice on Tuesday. I'm not pretending to be a medical expert, so if Greg Bedard says it's a good sign Grant suffered no memory loss, I'm taking that as a good sign.

Either RB Kregg Lumpkin suffered a hamstring injury late in Saturday's game, or he felt something before the game. The bottom line is that he missed practice on Monday and McCarthy doesn't know when he'll return. Rookie 6th round RB James Starks has yet to practice. The Press-Gazette reports that RB Brandon Jackson is the No. 1 running back, and undrafted rookie RB Quinn Porter is No. 2. The depth chart has become so thin that FB John Kuhn is playing some at running back. 

If Grant's concussion continues to cause him problems, McCarthy says that Jackson is "an every-down back." I'm not a believer in Jackson's ability to run the ball, he's never seemed to have a good vision or the ability to find the opening in the line. But I've always liked his potential as a receiver, and he was an excellent pass blocker on 3rd down last season.

The wild card in all this is Porter. If Lumpkin and Starks remain out, and the Packers don't make a roster move, Porter has a clear shot at winning a spot on the 53-man roster. That is something I did not expect a month ago. I'm still not 100% sold on him, and I'd like to see him in another game or two.

Training camp practice is back tomorrow with a morning and an evening session.