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| RB Ryan Grant has reportedly rejoined the Packers to replace the injured James Starks. (US Presswire) |
Following news that James Starks was heading to injured reserve with a knee injury suffered in the Packers’ 23-14 win over the Vikings on Sunday, Green Bay has reportedly signed a familiar face to bolster its depleted running back corps.
Ryan Grant has signed with his old team, according to ESPNMilwaukee.com. Grant, who played for the Packers from 2007-2011, agreed to terms on Wednesday morning and is expected to practice with the team immediately.
According to the report, Grant flew in to Green Bay Tuesday night and worked out Wednesday morning. The Packers have not announced the move publicly, but coach Mike McCarthy is expected to address the media after practice Wednesday afternoon.
Grant, who had 134 carries for 559 yards (4.2-yard average) and two touchdowns for the Packers last year, was not re-signed in the offseason. Over his five seasons in Green Bay, Grant ran for 4,016 yards and 25 touchdowns and had back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons in 2008-2009.
In 2012, Grant had a few workouts, including with NFC North-rival Detroit and his former team, the New York Giants, last week. He signed with Atlanta midway through the season and played in the Falcons’ Week 5 game, carrying once for 5 yards.
In the Packers backfield, Grant joins second-year incumbent Alex Green, as well as FB John Kuhn and new additions Johnny White and DuJuan Harris, signed off the practice squad last week.
Starks, it appears, is done for the year. His knee injury is reportedly not an ACL problem, but it’s serious enough that the Packers presumably wanted to use his roster spot on a healthy player. In a strange back-to-the-future homecoming, that player is Grant.
Follow Packers reporter James Carlton on Twitter @CBSPackers.
