Ryan Grant

Coach Mike McCarthy said the doctors treat internal injuries cautiously and aren't going to bend the rules for Ryan Grant. Because the Packers have James Starks and rookie Alex Green, a pair of talented runners, they don't have to press Grant into action even if he's cleared late in the week.

"There's a protocol based on the history of Ryan's specific injury, and we'll go through that protocol," McCarthy said. "Once again, you get into, the player thinks he's able to go but the medical staff is going to go through the precautionary test and there's certain markers they feel they need to hit before they can release the player to play."

Starks is coming off the worst game of his career, an 11-carry, 5-yard performance that also included a lost fumble, so there's no guarantee he'll take over where Grant left off. But he does have just 10 fewer yards than Grant this season and is averaging a healthy 4.6 yards a carry.

Green has been inactive the last two weeks, in part because of an Achilles' injury and in part because he hasn't been needed. This week, it's likely he'll be active no matter what Grant's status is.

James Starks is shaping up to be a nice RB2 in Week 4, assuming Grant sits. The Broncos were successful in shutting down the Titans' woeful running game last week, though if the Packers have the lead, they'll probably give Starks some extra work to kill the clock.