Grant Back On Track

One thing was dramatically different about the statline of the Packers following Sunday’s win against the Chicago Bears: Ryan Grant was over 100 yards on the ground.  For the first time since Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, Grant broke the century mark.  Unlike the game against the Colts where he had a mere 105 yards rushing, Grant smashed the 100-yard mark, rushing for 145 yards and scoring a touchdown.  The rushing department has been sorely lacking, due mostly in part to Grant, of whom big things were expected coming into this season.  Grant has disappointed, averaging only 3.9 yards per carry as opposed to the 5.1 he put up last year.  The problems with Grant started has he held out for all offseason activities and part of training camp, putting him out of football shape.  After he reported to camp, he pulled his hamstring, further hindering him.  He missed all preseason games, and his first snap against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 was his first game action since the NFC Championship Game against the New York Giants.  It’s taken him a long time to really get back into NFL-mode, and the Packer performance this year has reflected in it.

However, Grant was rewarded for his performance by being named FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for Week 11:

"Quarterback KURT WARNER of the Arizona Cardinals and running back RYAN GRANT of the Green Bay Packers are the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week for games played on November 13 – 17, the NFL announced today.Kurt Warner completed 32 of 44 attempts for 395 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals’ 26 – 20 win over the Seattle Seahawks.Ryan Grant tallied 145 yards and one touchdown as the Packers defeated division rival Chicago Bears 37 – 3.Warner and Grant were selected from among six finalists in Air and Ground categories.  The other FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week finalists were quarterbacks KERRY COLLINS of the Tennessee Titans and PEYTON MANNING of the Indianapolis Colts, and running backs WILLIE PARKER of the Pittsburgh Steelers and DE ANGELO WILLIAMS of the Carolina Panthers."

Grant becomes the first Packer since Aaron Rodgers to be a FedEx Ground or Air NFL Player of the Week who was named Air NFL Player of the Week in Week 2.