GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Eddie Lacy doesn't know whether he's going to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, but the Green Bay Packers running back knows there's one major part of the rehab process from last week's ankle injury that he doesn't like.
"A cold tub, which I really despise, I've just got to tell you all that," Lacy said.
Lacy was headed back there Thursday afternoon after he took part in practice on a limited basis.
"I went until they shut me down," Lacy said after practice. "Did a couple of individual drills to see how it felt running around and, yeah, stopped when they told me to."
Seated at his usual interview spot on the edge of a table in front of his locker, Lacy had his ailing left ankle covered with a compression sock so it was difficult to tell how much swelling, if any, he had. He had the ankle taped during practice.
But at least he didn't require a walking boot as he did for a good portion of his rookie season, when he battled a sprained right ankle for most of the second half of the season.
"I don't think I would say it's as bad," Lacy said. "I don't think I need a boot."
Lacy also battled an ankle injury early last season. Neither time did he miss a game because of it. In fact, he's only missed two games in his NFL career: one last season because of a groin injury and one as a rookie in 2013 because of a concussion.
Lacy appeared on his way to a second straight 100-yard rushing game when he dropped out in the third quarter of last week's win over the Giants. Lacy, who rushed for 103 yards in the Week 3 win over the Lions, was up to 81 yards on 11 carries when he got hurt against New York.
The Packers need Lacy this week perhaps more than ever given James Starks' tenuous situation. Starks, who finished Sunday's game after Lacy dropped out, has a knee injury and also has been excused from all team activities until at least Saturday because of a death in his family.
"That's what we're shooting for," Lacy said. "Hopefully I'm able to get out there and play.
"It's going to come down to Sunday," he added. "I'm going to do everything in my power to be able to put myself in the best position when it's game time to go out there and play."
At this point, the Packers don't have another halfback on the roster. They could promote Don Jackson from the practice squad, and after releasing No. 3 quarterback Joe Callahan on Thursday, they have a roster spot open. However, they also might need room on the roster for defensive end Mike Pennel and cornerback Demetri Goodson. Both are eligible to be activated after serving four-game suspensions to start the season, but the Packers have until Monday to do so.