Eddie Lacy won’t play for the Packers again this season

The Green Bay Packers have announced that running back Eddie Lacy will remain on injured reserve, as the team has opted to activate cornerback Makinton Dorleant from IR instead.

Lacy suffered an ankle injury that required surgical repair and has been on injured reserve since Week 6, and he’ll remain there. The Packers have lost four of the five games that Lacy’s been sidelined.

Green Bay’s run game has been dramatically impacted by Lacy’s absence, as they’ve had to put together a makeshift rushing attack. Aaron Rodgers was the team’s leading rusher against the Atlanta Falcons with 60 yards, and again versus Washington with just 33 yards. Wide receiver Ty Montgomery has also led the team in rushing yards in two different games, with 53 yards against the Indianapolis Colts and 60 against the Chicago Bears.

The Packers signed running back Christine Michael after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks, but Michael was inactive for Green Bay’s loss to Washington in Week 11.

Green Bay’s defense has been a problem, and the Packers are ranked 23rd in the league for passing yards allowed with 265.6. They’re No. 27 for points allowed per game, with 27.5. A secondary that allowed 375 passing yards and three touchdowns to Kirk Cousins in Week 11 could use a boost that the return of Dorleant may provide.

In addition to Lacy, cornerback Sam Shields has also been on injured reserve and will not return this season.