Like most teams, the Green Bay Packers have had their share of injuries to deal with this season and have felt that impact, in particular, at the running back position.
“It’s been one of those deals that you hear the old cliché of next man up,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans. “Whosever available that’s who I’m going to get available because that position is very key when you talk success of the offense, which translates to our success as a team.”
With three games on the regular-season schedule remaining, the Packers have had six different running backs active on their game-day roster in 2023. Due to injuries at various points to Aaron Jones, Emanuel Wilson, and most recently, AJ Dillon, the Packers have also had to rely on Patrick Taylor, James Robinson, and Kenyan Drake this season.
Early on in the year, Taylor was signed to the active roster for one game after all three of his practice squad elevations had been used up. He was then released and eventually signed back to the 53-man from the New England practice squad after injuries to Jones and Wilson.
Robinson had two different stints on the Packers’ practice squad because of injuries sustained within the position group and was signed to the 53-man for the Thanksgiving game in Detroit. Drake has been elevated from the practice squad the last two weeks.
Jones has been on the field for only 229 offensive snaps this season, working through a hamstring injury at the start of the year and an MCL sprain recently. As we’ve seen over the years, this offense is different when Jones is on the field. No other backs have the burst and playmaking that he does with the ball in his hands, not to mention that his presence alone provides the offense with a lift.
”He’s been extremely frustrated with it, especially since taking on the role as one of the primary leaders on the team. And as a leader, a lot of times, you want to be out there with your guys competing and helping them win. More than just his own individual accolades or opportunities, it’s him feeling that pressure of not being out there.”
Dillon had been playing his best football over the last month-plus, being more decisive, which has led to more explosive and physical runs. Unfortunately, Dillon suffered a broken thumb against New York that sidelined him this past week for the first time in his career because of an injury.
Dillon’s status for this week’s game is still unknown. Sirmans said that it’ll come down to pain tolerance and Dillon’s ability to protect the football. In practice this week there will be more live periods, which will help get a better gauge of where Dillon is at.
The Green Bay run game hasn’t been overly dominant this season, but despite the injuries and rarely having both Jones and Dillon available at full capacity, the Packers have found more success on the ground during the second half of the season. From Weeks 3 through 8, when Green Bay was 1-5, they averaged just 4.1 yards per carry as a team. Over the last seven games, that figure has jumped to 4.6 yards.
A lot of the success that the offense as a whole has experienced begins with being able to generate positive plays in the run game. This keeps the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations and opens up opportunities in the passing game, specifically off of play-action, where Love has been very effective.
For Sirmans, there has been a level of excitement in having to get different players ready to perform, and oftentimes without much of a runway to do so. Part of that process for him includes keeping everyone engaged throughout the week, whether they are injured or on the practice squad, and it’s unknown if they will play or not. Sirmans purposely involves each back as if they were suiting up for the upcoming game.
He has also cultivated a running back room during his time in Green Bay that is competitive, but one where each player is willing to help out their teammates.
“The other part about it,” said Sirmans, “and I told him (Drake) this when he first got here about our room, there’s always competition and all this stuff, but guys have been great at helping him. Whether it’s AJ or whether Aaron or it’s PT telling him here’s what you want to do right here. Here’s how we do this. He’s been getting constant feedback, not only from myself but from other guys too.”
As the Packers have navigated not having either Jones or Dillon available for the last month, Taylor has primarily been the third down running back, handling pass-catching and pass-protection duties. However, he has totaled 65 rushing yards on just seven carries in the last three games. First Robinson and now Drake have been the third running backs, mostly there for depth but occasionally utilized to provide either Jones or Dillon with a breather.
Although injuries have been an unfortunate part of the 2023 season for Green Bay at the running back position, the players and the makeup of that room, along with Sirmans leading the way, haven’t let that derail their season. In fact, as the numbers show and with the help of the offensive line, this is a position group that has improved as the season went on, providing some stability to the offense in the midst of dealing with some chaos and roster movement.
“It’s been, for me,” added Sirmans, “one of those deals where it’s actually a little excitement about it. Okay, this guy hasn’t played a lot or this guy is new to the system. There’s that excitement of you’ve got to get this guy ready to perform.”