Green Bay Packers

Mike McCarthy: 'James Starks is a helluva running back'

Published Sep. 23, 2015 12:50 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Green Bay Packers have a premier running back in Eddie Lacy. They like to feed him the ball and watch the big, 234-pounder gobble up huge chunks of yardage.

In Week 2, however, Lacy suffered an ankle injury, and the Packers had to find a way to win without him. They still managed to top the visiting Seattle Seahawks, 27-17, thanks to some tough running from backup James Starks.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is big on Starks as a ball-carrier, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky:

James Starks is a helluva running back. Let's go back to his rookie year [2010]. I mean, he was on PUP pretty much almost [all season]. I think it was the last four weeks of the season we brought him up, and he was a big part of our run to the Super Bowl. So he just is a guy that takes advantage of his opportunities. He's the ultimate teammate. He always puts the team first.

But we could play 50-50 with Eddie and James if we had to. I have a lot of respect for James Starks.

The Packers hope Lacy will be able to play on Monday night versus the Kansas City Chiefs, but Starks gives them a reliable Plan B. Lacy and Starks have each handled 22 handoffs this season, and both backs are averaging well over 4.0 yards per carry.

(h/t ESPN)