Packers: Grading each position ahead of training camp

Running backs: B

Potential.

That is the word most fitting for Green Bay’s young trio of running backs — Ty Montgomery, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones.

All three have spent time as the Packers’ featured back, and they all thrived when given the opportunity. Producing at a high level consistently, and staying healthy, is the key going forward.

How head coach Mike McCarthy distributes the carries this season will be interesting to see. All three backs come with different skill sets, and that’s a good thing.

Montgomery is the most versatile. He can be moved around the field, whether in the backfield or on the outside as a receiver. He’s in the rare position of having experience playing both running back and wide receiver in the NFL, and he’s good at both.

Jones is arguably the most explosive runner of the three. He hit big play after big play last season, before injuries slowed his momentum. If he can stay healthy, Jones is the pick of the backs to deliver in the featured spot.

Williams gives the Packers something different than the other two. He is a powerful runner, ideal for short-yardage situations. When Green Bay is up late in the fourth quarter and needs to run down the clock, look no further than Jamaal Williams. The second-year player is solid in pass protection and has proved he can stay on the field for all three downs.

This group has the potential to become one of the best in the league, but for now they receive a B grade.