Eddie Lacy was the star of the Green Bay Packers' intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday night. But coach Mike McCarthy isn't ready to give the rookie the starting halfback job quite yet, at least not until he gets a look at DuJuan Harris.
"I'm excited to see when DuJuan Harris comes back, because I view him as our starter," McCarthy told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "I want him to get back in there and earn it like he did all of last year. He made an impact in our offense."
Harris, 24, ran for 257 yards on 62 carries (4.1 average) over six games, including two playoff contests, after injuries made room for his promotion from the practice squad Dec. 1.
But he missed time in the offseason after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst from one of his lungs, then opened training camp on the active/physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury that might keep him out another week or two.
It may be only a matter of time until the Packers give the job to Lacy, the second-round draft pick out of Alabama who ran for 65 yards on eight carries in Saturday's scrimmage and is a more physical presence at 5-11 and 230 pounds than the diminutive Harris (5-8, 203).
"I think everybody's been really impressed with Eddie and how he's looked in pads," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "He offers something a little different — a big back who's got incredible vision."
This is probably just McCarthy keeping his big back (Lacy) motivated. That said, he has never been afraid to use multiple backs when necessary.
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