Packers Officially Sign Grant, White to IR
The Packers officially announced the signing of Ryan Grant, but it's a different running back going on IR than most expected.
By Zach Kruse
The Green Bay Packers have officially announced the signing of veteran running back Ryan Grant, but it's a different name from the running back position going on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday afternoon than the one most were expecting.
Instead of James Starks landing on the list because of his injured knee, which Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee reported on Tuesday night, the Packers placed recently acquired running back Johnny White on IR with a concussion he suffered in Week 12.
White was claimed on Oct. 15 after the Buffalo Bills waived the second-year running back.
At least for now, the chance exists that the injury Starks suffered against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday is not of the season-ending variety. According to Wilde, Starks hurt his knee when Vikings cornerback Josh Robinson undercut the Packers running back in the fourth quarter of Green Bay's 23-14 win.
Starks left the game in obvious pain but later returned to carry three times.
However, White's concussion opened the door for Green Bay to finally bring back the franchise's fifth all-time leading rusher.
Grant, who played in one game with the Washington Redskins this season, spent five years in Green Bay from 2007-11. During that time, Grant rushed for 4,016 yards and 25 touchdowns.
In addition to signing Grant, the Packers also added tackle/guard Shea Allard and safety Chaz Powell to the practice squad.
Allard (6-4, 305 lbs.) was signed as undrafted free agent in May after taking part in the Packers' rookie camp on a tryout basis. He stuck with the team until cutdowns on Aug. 31. Allard started three years at left tackle for the University of Delaware.
Powell (6-0, 203) signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State but was released in late August. He also played cornerback, receiver and kick returner at State College.
Comments (30)
December 05, 2012 at 12:06 pm
Good to see Grant back. A fresh RB at this time of year could be just the spark our run game needs. Go Pack Go !!!
December 05, 2012 at 01:30 pm
Welcome back, Ryan!
December 05, 2012 at 12:24 pm
We had two open spots on the practice squad?
Zach Kruse
December 05, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Yep. Packers promoted Jeremy Ross and DuJuan Harris from the practice squad to the 53-man roster last Saturday.
December 05, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Wow, I knew Grant was good for us, but never quite realized he had topped 4,000 yards. His run in the latter half of 2007, minus the NFC Championship Game (where, if memory serves me correctly, he gained 16 yards on 8 carries), was quite remarkable.
December 05, 2012 at 01:52 pm
I kinda love it...guy comes in fresh and will have a MAJOR chip on his shoulder with a point to prove. This will likely be Ryan's last chance--I say he makes the most of it with an impressivve stretch run.
December 05, 2012 at 01:52 pm
Benson, Green, Starks, White, Harris & now Grant. I'll cut Green a little slack because he was at least drafted in the 3rd round (and is still young), but ....wow! Maybe TT needs to place a little more emphasis on the RB position. Seems abit out of control.
December 05, 2012 at 02:38 pm
I was thinking the same thing. He *kind of* did with Benson, but that wasn't anything incredible. And looking at the running back prospects for this upcoming Draft, I don't see him taking one.
December 05, 2012 at 03:42 pm
See, i disagree a bit. There isn't really anyone worthy in the 1st round. However there are a number of guys in the 2nd-3rd rounds that could come and contribute right away. Guys like Montee Ball, Andre Ellington, Kenjon Barner, Stepfan Taylor, Ray Graham, Jonathan Franklin, and others...
I really think after the mess at RB this year Thompson will definitely draft at least 1 RB. possibly 2.
December 05, 2012 at 06:34 pm
I'd like Monte Ball in the 2nd or 3rd.
December 05, 2012 at 08:23 pm
Yes please.
December 05, 2012 at 08:03 pm
Rex Burkhead in 3rd-4th round?
December 05, 2012 at 08:22 pm
Pass.
December 06, 2012 at 05:25 am
I'd like to add Giovani Bernard (UNC) to the list, if I may...havn't seen someone dominate for the heels like he does since Hakeem Nicks
December 06, 2012 at 07:17 am
I heard he was really good. I haven't seen him play but heard he was good.
He actually is thought to be a 1st round possibility from what I have been hearing.
A couple more players that i have heard that are in the 2nd-3rd round area are Joseph Randle (oklahoma state), Mike Gillislee (Florida), Theo Riddick (Notre Dame).
There are others too, but those are the biggest names I have been hearing in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
December 06, 2012 at 09:11 am
If Benson stayed healthy we wouldn't even be having this discussion and TT would be a genius. You can't control injuries. Even Adrian Petersen gets injured sometimes. That has nothing to do with the GM.
December 05, 2012 at 02:28 pm
I'm with rocky. Just draft a freakin rb already. I still like Alex though....a little.
December 05, 2012 at 02:45 pm
He drafted Green in the 3rd round and Brandon Jackson in the 2nd round. He's spent high picks on RBs, they just haven't panned out. Personally, I don't like RBs in the 1st round, but it's not like TT hasn't drafted any.
December 05, 2012 at 02:58 pm
I reeeealy like Lacy. Kinda like Bell n Davis as well. Lacy would be nice just because he's a big bruiser....and with our line we need a guy that can take a hit.
December 05, 2012 at 03:09 pm
If we could get one of them in 2nd round...kinda doubtful on Lacy n Bell......it'd be awesome. We all know what we need in rd 1. And my vote is Minter from LSU.
December 05, 2012 at 04:02 pm
it sounds like we could still have starks back by the playoffs. this could be good. divide up the runs between grant and green for the next few weeks and then have a healthy starks come back in january
December 05, 2012 at 06:28 pm
I say f Starks. He's always hurt.
December 06, 2012 at 09:14 am
Why do people insist on blaming the player for getting hurt? I'm pretty certain Starks would prefer to play rather than rehab. This seems like misplaced anger to me...
December 05, 2012 at 09:23 pm
I believe the Alex Green 3rd rounder was the pick TT wouldn't give up for the NFL's current leading rusher, right? *sigh*
December 06, 2012 at 09:12 am
I think even TT would have traded a 3rd round pick for Adrian Peterson...
December 05, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Can someone help me do the math? We signed White as a replacement for Saine who was predominantly a special teamer. So now White goes down and we sign Grant, who is notoriously not a special teamer. What fills that void, DuJuan Harris?
December 06, 2012 at 04:53 am
Just give the ball to Raji
December 06, 2012 at 07:54 am
Its going to be O next year, even a wide receiver is possible. To many injuries this year, 3 guys hurt so far at WR. Then really O line is a need, I mean is Rogers in one piece at the end of the year.
December 06, 2012 at 10:47 am
Not blaming the player. There are just some players that can't stay healthy and Starks is one of them.
December 06, 2012 at 12:32 pm
I want the center from alabama, grab the rb too lol