The Green Bay Packers are planning to be without backup running back Jamaal Williams for Sunday’s season finale against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Williams, who injured his shoulder during the Packers’ win over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, would be held out of Sunday’s contest.
“Yeah, I think we’ll probably hold him back this week, and move forward with the guys we have,” LaFleur said Friday.
Williams has rushed 107 times for 460 yards and one touchdown in 2019, with 39 catches for 253 yards and five more scores as a receiver. He’s played 373 snaps on offense, or roughly 38 percent of the offense’s total snaps in 2019.
LaFleur said the Packers have “a lot of confidence” in rookie running back Dexter Williams, who would presumably take some of Williams’ snaps as the backup behind Aaron Jones. The sixth-round pick from Notre Dame has only played six snaps and been active in three games in 2019.
The Packers also have versatile running back Tyler Ervin, who played seven snaps on offense – including four as jet motion man – during Monday night’s win.
It’s unclear if fullback Danny Vitale, who can also operate in a running back role, will play against the Lions. He missed practice the last two days with a knee injury.
The injuries at running back could create a bigger opportunity for Jones, who is 16 yards from getting to 1,000 rushing yards and one touchdown away from 20 total touchdowns in 2019.
