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          Running back reversal: Eddie Lacy more likely to play than James Starks

          • Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff WriterOct 12, 2016, 07:45 PM ET
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              Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobDemovsky.
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          GREEN BAY, Wis. -- When the day started, it looked like the Green Bay Packers might be forced to use James Starks -- and not Eddie Lacy -- as their primary (and perhaps only) running back on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

          By the time Wednesday’s work was over, it appeared to be the other way around.

          Starks was nowhere to be found on the practice field with what was later disclosed as a knee injury, while Lacy did some work even though he’s still dealing with the left ankle injury that knocked him out of last week’s win over the New York Giants.

          The Packers offered no details on Starks’ injury other than to list him as a non-participant in practice. Lacy was listed as a limited participant even after coach Mike McCarthy said earlier on Wednesday that Lacy would be part of the rehab group.

          “We're still evaluating some things,” McCarthy said before practice. “We'll see how Eddie moves around today in the rehab."

          Based on the injury report, it sounds like Lacy moved around better than expected. Lacy had his left ankle heavily taped as he went through the individual drills during the open portion of practice.

          Still, the Packers might be thin at running back since there’s a chance one of the two backs may not be available. They have only Lacy, Starks and fullback Aaron Ripkowski on the roster plus running back Don Jackson on the practice squad. They have also used receivers Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery as ball carriers out of the backfield this season.

          “Well, it’s going to have to be next guy up,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “We’re going to have to see who that is and adjust accordingly. I’m thinking Eddie is going to be OK this week. Hopefully.”

          Rodgers also sounded optimistic he would have Cobb at his disposal even though Cobb sustained a neck injury in the final minutes against the Giants on a hit McCarthy called "unnecessary." When asked if he was concerned he wouldn’t have Cobb, who posted his first 100-yard receiving game of the season against the Giants, Rodgers said: “I don’t see that happening.”