Green Bay Packers announce running back James Starks will start Week Three

With starting running back Eddie Lacy likely to be ruled out with a concussion, the Green Bay Packers are going to be in need of a replacement. Enter James Starks, who was announced as the starting running back for Week Three by Packers head coach Mike McCarthy this afternoon.

Per Jason Wilde:

"McCarthy says James Starks “will get the starting opportunity this week,” regardless of Lacy’s status, evidently. #Packers"

While Lacy hasn’t been ruled it, given the NFL’s standard concussion policies, seeing Lacy on the field in Week Three would be extremely unlikely, especially considering the Packers’ bye in Week 4, which would give Lacy almost three weeks of recovery time from the injury.

Starks became the first Packers running back to rush for 100+ yards in over a year last weekend, though, should find duplicating that task much more difficult against a talented Cincinnati Bengals run defense.

Outside of Starks, there weren’t many other options, so the move was expected and somewhat obvious, but the fact Starks will gain the start even if Lacy is active was not as expected.