Packers bring back RB Nate McCrary

According to Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber, the Green Bay Packers will re-sign running back Nate McCrary, who they used to get them out of a pinch last training camp. McCrary last played for the United Football League’s Michigan Panthers, where he ran for 60 yards on 16 carries during the regular season.

McCrary’s first stint with the Packers came a little over a year ago when he was let go by the Cleveland Browns — funny enough, the team Green Bay just beat in their preseason opener. After three weeks in Packers training camp, McCrary was let go by Green Bay, eventually leading to a one-week stint on the Browns’ practice squad before he resurfaced in the UFL. Last preseason, McCrary notched 11 carries for 37 yards, which only ranked behind Emanuel Wilson, AJ Dillon and Patrick Taylor Jr. among the Packers’ running backs.

Green Bay is currently in a pinch at the position. Third-round rookie MarShawn Lloyd might not be healthy until the regular season, as he suffered a hamstring injury in the first week of the preseason. On top of that, running back Jarveon Howard (undisclosed) was missing from practice on Tuesday.

With the Packers already stating that they don’t want to use their starters against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, that rules out Josh Jacobs from getting action in the game. Before the signing of McCrary, this meant that AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson and Ellis Merriweather would make up the healthy unit versus Denver. For reference, the Packers rushed 34 times in Week 1 of the preseason and Merriweather only carried the ball twice, if you’re wondering what they think of the reserve running back.

Hence, the signing of McCrary.

The Packers also signed linebacker Chris Russell, a college teammate of second-round rookie Edgerrin Cooper, on Tuesday. The team has not made corresponding roster moves, but Green Bay was already at the 91-man limit. This means that general manager Brian Gutekunst is gonna have to send a couple of people home, possibly with injury settlements. If the Packers are going to go the injury settlement route, Howard, defensive end Deslin Alexandre (leg) and defensive end Keshawn Banks (groin) are prime candidates.