He’s been called out by his coach for being overweight and P90X trainer, Tony Horton, volunteered to help Eddie Lacy get in shape. Despite the effort, Lacy only played five games last year because of an ankle injury.
Should Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy give the fifth-year veteran out of Alabama another opportunity to be explosive? Answers to this question will fall on March 9, the deadline for NFL free agency.
For now, let’s take a closer look at Lacy and what he’s done for the Packers:
At 5-foot-11 and 234 pounds, Lacy has the prototypical size for a running back. His size allows him to play with a combination of power, speed and toughness. A second round pick out of Alabama in 2013, Lacy won NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns on averaging four yards a carry.
Following his rookie campaign, he had another outstanding year in which he rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine scores. Since 2014, medical issues and fluctuation with his weight has caused Lacy’s production to suffer.
His yardage decreased nearly 400 yards in 2015 and 2016.
Last season, the Packers suffered a huge blow at the running back position after Lacy had an ankle injury in week six against the Dallas Cowboys. Per Lombardiave, the Louisiana native went in depth about the mishap and why he was out so long in the 2016 season.
“I messed up my deltoid and widened the bone on my ankle, so I had to get two screws, two wires and a plate to fix it because I messed up my deltoid ligament”, Lacy said. “That’s the longest thing to heal.”
Not only has Lacy’s numbers decreased, but the amount of carries he’s used to receiving did as well.
The Packers currently have two running backs on its roster in Christine Michael, who was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks and Ty Montgomery. So far, the Packers have released cornerback Sam Shields and running back James Starks– which leaves the team with a decent amount of money under the cap. The team could make some room to sign other players that can possibly make an impact, if Lacy isn’t back on the team in 2017.
Mike McCarthy does want to see Lacy back in a Packers uniform; however, some NFL insiders around the league believe it would be a one-year deal. Now entering his fifth season, Lacy must prove himself.
He amassed 3,435 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in his career.
