Green Bay Packers Adds Speed Machine To Their Backfield.
The green bay packers are adding an intriguing combination of experience and speed to their backfield.
Veteran tailback Kenyan Drake, who has played for three other teams this season, has been signed to the Packers’ practice squad.
He takes the place of James Robinson, who rushed once for two yards in Sunday night’s win over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.
The Packers’ backfield has been staring into the face of uncertainty for much of the season. Aaron Jones missed multiple games with a hamstring injury before returning to the lineup, but evidently not at full capacity.
He sustained an MCL sprain in the Packers’ win against the Los Angeles Chargers after carrying the ball just four times; he’s been shelved ever since and has now missed the last two games.
Drake’s arrival could certainly foreshadow Jones continuing to miss an extended amount of time, or the Packers could simply be looking to add another layer of speed to their offense. As of right now, their backfield doesn’t have a lot of it.
AJ Dillon has been shouldering the load in Jones’ absence and as the temperature has dropped, the former second-round pick has begun to heat up.
Dillon has totaled 168 yards from scrimmage over his last two games. The hope is that the infusion of the savvy 29-year-old could potentially alleviate some of the pressure on Dillon’s shoulders.
I could feel the energy around the building today,” Drake told CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. “It was legendary, and you can feel the legacy and bright future they have. I’m excited to get to work to help them take that next step towards the ultimate goal.”
It’s unclear just what kind of role Drake is going to have considering the Packers already have Patrick Taylor Jr. on their active roster. Head coach Matt LaFleur has instilled trust in Taylor through the years — he’s been the team’s go-to third-down running back due to his ability to efficiently protect in obvious passing situations.
A former third-round pick of the Miami Dolphins, Drake spent the entire duration of his rookie contract there before spending another couple of seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Ever since, Drake has yet to truly find stability and has become something of a journeyman, spending time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.
The Alabama product has rushed 868 times for 3,866 yards and 33 touchdowns throughout an eight-year career. His speed has also reinforced his presence as a dynamic threat out of the backfield. He’s tallied 218 receptions and amassed 1,655 yards, adding another eight touchdowns to his total.
Drake has eight 100-yard performances in his career with the most recent in an Oct. 16 clash with the New York Giants last season.
The Packers also claimed cornerback David Long Jr. off of waivers from the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday. He takes the final spot on the 53-man roster.