The Packers drafted running backs in bulk a year ago, hoping something would work.
Now, they’re wondering if one of them will work again.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com, the Packers are concerned that running back Johnathan Franklin might have a career-threatening neck injury.
Last year’s fourth-rounder from UCLA hasn’t practiced this offseason, and according to the report, the Packers are “putting Franklin through more tests to determine whether it’s safe for him to continue playing.”
Franklin had one great game last year, running for 103 yards on 13 carries against the Bengals in September. But he only had six more carries the rest of the season after that one, and second-rounder Eddie Lacy grew into his role as the lead back nicely.
Neck injuries are a sensitive topic anyway for the Packers, after going through varying degrees of them with Nick Collins, Sean Richardson and Jermichael Finley in recent years.
While the lack of information will always cause speculation to grow, the fact he hasn’t been out there is a concern.