Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers: Essential matchups
The X-factor
Knile Davis/Don Jackson: In case you’ve been holed up in cave over the past week, both Lacy and Starks are out with lower-body injuries, which have necessitated the Packers to pull off a trade with the Chiefs for Knile Davis.
The SEC product brings impressive size to the table at 227 pounds along with uncommon speed for man his size and the ability to make defenders miss. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old back, his measurables haven’t been enough to offset an assortment of injuries that have plagued him since his college days and ball-security issues.
He will undoubtedly play a role versus the Bears, but how big of a workload he’ll be able to assume with one of practice under his belt remains to be seen.
The Packers may also bring up Don Jackson from the practice squad. The rookie ball carrier features toughness and speed, but isn’t nearly as big as Davis at about 210 pounds.
The Bears’ middle-of-the-road run defense has taken a major hit in recent weeks with an ankle injury suffered by nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who remains very iffy for Thursday night’s tilt.