The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will both be without key running backs for Sunday's showdown at Lambeau Field. While the Bears won't have leading rusher Kyle Monangai, who is out with a toe injury, the Packers ruled out Chris Brooks, the roster's most versatile running back and a key part of the pass protection group.
Brooks injured his ankle last Sunday in Tampa Bay and missed all three practices this week.
The Packers signed Pierre Strong Jr. from the practice squad on Thursday, providing depth at the position behind Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd.
Last week, Brooks carried four times for 30 yards, including a season-long run of 27 yards, before exiting. Through four games, Brooks has 15 rushes for 70 yards and three catches for 24
yards across 102 snaps, or 40 percent of the offense's snaps. He started games at running back in Week 1 and Week 4.
Brooks leads all Packers running backs in pass protection snaps with 35, per PFF, so Matt LaFleur will have to devise a backup plan for when the offense needs an extra blocker in obvious passing situations on Sunday against the Bears. Lloyd was the preferred option after Brooks left the game last week, playing five snaps as a pass blocker and catching all five of his targets while running 14 routes out of the backfield.
The Packers also ruled out receiver Savion Williams, who opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday.
Packers injury report for Week 5 vs. Bears
- OUT: RB Chris Brooks, WR Savion Williams
- DOUBTFUL: OL Aaron Banks, OL Jacob Monk
- QUESTIONABLE: OL Jager Burton, DL Anthony Campbell, DL Javon Hargrave
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers rule out RB Chris Brooks for Week 5 vs. Bears
