The distressed running back room of the Green Bay Packers might be down a key player when Matt LaFleur’s team plays the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Running back Chris Brooks, the most experienced player in the team’s running back room, isn’t practicing on Thursday due to an ankle injury suffered last Sunday in Tampa, and Packers coach Matt LaFleur isn’t sure if Brooks will be available come Sunday.
“We’re going to give him another day and see where he’s at tomorrow, and make a decision after that,” LaFleur said before Thursday’s practice.
Brooks has played 102 snaps for the Packers through four games, the most among the team’s running backs. Brooks has 70 rushing yards on 15 attempts, including a 29-yard run last week, and 24 receiving yards on three catches. He’s been on the field for 35 pass-blocking snaps. He was the team’s starter at running back in Week 1 and again in Week 4 against the Buccaneers.
In last season’s playoff loss in Chicago, Brooks played 16 snaps and turned his two touches into 27 yards.
The only other running backs on the 53-man roster are Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd, who both fumbled last week and have struggled to consistently hit the right holes as runners. Lloyd ranks as the second worst running back in rushing yards over expected (-45) entering Week 5, while Johnson had a killer fumble inside the 5-yard line last week.
If Brooks can’t go, the Packers would likely elevate veteran running back Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad to serve as the third running back, although Johnson and Lloyd would be expected to handle most of the snaps and touches.
The Packers will practice again Friday, giving Brooks a final opportunity to prove he’s physically capable of playing. Status designations for Sunday will arrive with Friday’s final injury report.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers don’t know if RB Chris Brooks (ankle) will play vs. Bears