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Montgomery Commits to RB, Will Change Number in Offseason

Jonathon Natsis News NFL

Ty Montgomery will be an emergency running back no longer. Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy has confirmed the former wide receiver will make the permanent transition to tailback in time for the 2017 season, after a breakout year in the backfield for the depleted Packers.

“He’s a running back, so he wants to change his number and that’s the way we’re going,” McCarthy confirmed in his end-of-season news conference this week. Per the NFL’s strict uniform numbering rules, Montgomery must ditch his old #88 and pick a new number somewhere between 20 and 49 in time for week 1 of the 2017 regular season.

Although the Packers always had plans of using the malleable Montgomery in different formations when they drafted him in 2015, it wasn’t until a heap of injuries at the position forced the team’s hand in week 7. An injured ankle and a torn meniscus suffered by Eddie Lacy and James Starks respectively made Montgomery the starter.

And while the Packers left the bulk of the offensive production in the capable hands of Aaron Rodgers, Montgomery made the most of his opportunities. He had 74 carries for a whopping 458 yards, or a sliver below 6 yards per carry. In particular, he shredded arch nemesis Chicago, with 25 totes for 222 yards in their two meetings this season.

So even with Montgomery now thrown into the mix, the RB depth chart should clear up considerably before the start of free agency. The 29-year-old Starks is a favorite to be among the early cuts following a lack of production this year. Lacy deserves to reclaim the starting role when he recovers – unless he exhibits some salient reason for the Pack to drop him – while Aaron Ripkowski will likely return to his more familiar role of fullback.

At 6’, 217, expect Ty to pack on the pounds if he’s set to run the ball a lot more next year. Even as a spell back for the time being, he could develop into a nice change of pace for the crash-and-bash Lacy, adding another wrinkle to Green Bay’s already potent offense.

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