Packers: After signings, running back room is getting crowded

Since the start of camp, the Green Bay Packers have added two more running backs into the fold.

The Packers entered camp with six running backs: Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Dexter Williams, Tra Carson, Malcolm Johnson, and Danny Vitale (fullback). For a team that will probably keep around four or five, this is a good amount to have for training camp. Since the start of camp, however, they have added two more to the mix.

Corey Grant was signed after the first day of camp. Grant played with Jacksonville for the past four seasons, including the last two when Nathaniel Hackett was the offensive coordinator for the Jaguars.

While there, he was a solid backup behind Leonard Fournette. He is a very fast and athletic back who has shown he can make some huge plays.

The Packers claimed Darrin Hall when the Bengals waived him. He is an undrafted rookie out of the University of Pittsburgh. At 6-foot and 220 pounds, he is a physical one-cut runner who hits the hole hard.

With the two recent additions, there are now eight running backs on the roster vying for a spot on the Packers. It’s fair to say that Jones, Jamaal Williams, and Vitale are locks, and Dexter Williams has a very good chance considering he is a draft pick. That leaves about one to two spots open for three guys.

With Grant having experience with Hackett, you have to like his chances to make this team. This new offense uses the running game a lot more than Mike McCarthy did and you have to be able to catch the ball out of the backfield in today’s NFL too. Grant has shown he can do that in this league.

Hall, Carson, and Johnson will need to excel in camp and in the preseason games and shine on special teams if they want a shot at making the team, and even then it might not be enough. With this many running backs on the roster, there aren’t enough reps to go around for some of the guys buried on the depth chart.

One thing is for sure though, you have to like the depth on the roster. I can’t remember the last time the Packers have had this many backs who could contribute to the offense. They have gone from converting wide receivers into running backs to having the wonderful problem of having too many quality running backs.