GREEN BAY, Wis. -- With free agency a month away, it’s a good time to take a look at who the Green Bay Packers have returning and what they might need to add this offseason at each position.

Running back

Under contract for 2017: Ty Montgomery, Aaron Ripkowski (fullback)

Free agents: Eddie Lacy (unrestricted), Christine Michael (unrestricted), Don Jackson (exclusive rights), John Crockett (exclusive rights), Joe Kerridge (fullback, exclusive rights)

Position review: This was supposed to be Lacy’s comeback season. He spent last offseason trying to shed weight. He tried to change his eating habits and worked out with P90X founder Tony Horton to improve his overall fitness. Although it was debatable if Lacy was any smaller by the time the season started, he clearly was more effective. He averaged 5.1 yards per carry until an ankle injury ended his season in Week 6. Who knows what Lacy would have done had he played the whole season? But his injury combined with Starks' ineffectiveness and subsequent injuries (knee, concussion) forced coach Mike McCarthy to turn to Montgomery in midseason.

Montgomery, a converted receiver, proved surprisingly effective albeit in small doses. He carried more than 11 times in a game only once, but his 5.9-yard average per carry was off the charts.

Michael, a midseason waiver claim after the trade for Knile Davis didn’t work out, was a decent change-of-pace alternative to Montgomery.

Ripkowski, who was almost exclusively a blocking back in college, surprised the Packers with his running ability. The only blemish was a costly fumble in the NFC title game, but his pass protection was more reliable than Montgomery’s.

Position outlook: The Packers are committed to Montgomery as a running back, but it remains to be seen whether he can ever become a workhorse back. That’s why it might be imperative for the Packers to either re-sign Lacy or address the position in free agency or relatively high in the draft.

General manager Ted Thompson has never taken a running back in the first round, but ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projected the Packers would take one -- Stanford's Christian McCaffrey -- in his first mock draft of the year.

Lacy’s value on the open market could be hard to judge, so the Packers might take a wait-and-see approach with him when free agency begins. If teams are scared off by his weight and injury issues, the Packers might have a chance to bring him back on a short-term, lower-priced contract. However, if even one team believes his start to 2016 was an indication that he can be an 1,100-yard back like he was in his first two seasons, then he could be as good as gone.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said no decision will be made on Lacy until he’s recovered from his ankle surgery.

"I'd love to see Eddie back," McCarthy said earlier this offseason. "Eddie is going through a medical situation. I clearly understand his contract situation, so that's really something we'll continue to work through."

It was no surprise the Packers cut James Starks, a move they made Tuesday. Starks had another year left on his contract and was scheduled to make $3 million in salary ($2.6 million) and bonuses ($400,000) this year. The Packers were able to wipe that $3 million off their salary cap for 2017 and will have to count only the $750,000 prorated portion of his signing bonus against their cap.

Level of need (low, medium or high): High.

By the numbers

457: Yards rushing by Montgomery, the lowest total to lead the Packers for a season since 1998 (Darick Holmes, 386)

369: Rushing yards for Aaron Rodgers, the highest of his career.

20: Packers ranking in rushing yards per game, out of 32 teams.