GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s clear the Green Bay Packers no longer view Eddie Lacy as their workhorse running back.

Even without his latest injury, a groin problem that prevented him from finishing Sunday’s 37-29 loss at the Carolina Panthers, Lacy had lost his hold on that job. Coach Mike McCarthy has been operating under a platoon system ever since Lacy sprained his ankle in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks.

At this point, James Starks is the better back.

James Starks helped the Packers' passing game Sunday, but rushed for only 39 yards on 10 carries. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

But even that isn’t good enough. The Packers rushed for a season-low 71 yards on 19 carries.

“We’ve got to run the ball more effectively,” right guard T.J. Lang said.

Starks gave the Packers a boost in the passing game, catching six passes for 83 yards (including gains of 30 and 29 yards – the latter for a touchdown – on screen passes), but he managed only 39 yards on 10 carries.

That was better than what Lacy did, rushing five times for 10 yards and losing a fumble before his groin injury late in the third quarter ended his day. It’s been a lost season so far for Lacy, who is on pace for just 618 yards after rushing for more than 1,100 in each of his first two seasons.

He doesn’t even lead his own team in rushing; Starks has that distinction with 334 yards to Lacy’s 308.

The offensive linemen blamed themselves.

“We just really need to step up and execute better when it comes to those running plays and in the run game,” right tackle Bryan Bulaga said. “When we don’t do that, it kind of gets us in an unbalanced situation on offense and then we’re climbing the hill and it’s no good.”

Here’s the offensive breakdown from Sunday’s game:

Total offensive plays: 77

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers: 77

Notes: Despite leading a furious comeback from a 23-point fourth-quarter deficit, Rodgers made a fatal mistake on fourth-and-goal with two minutes remaining. He missed receiver Randall Cobb, who was wide open, and then threw an interception that essentially sealed the game. Rodgers was sacked five times, his most in a game in the past three seasons.

Receivers

Notes: Finally fully healthy for the first time since he sprained his ankle in Week 2, Adams had season highs in catches (seven) and yards (93) but couldn’t haul in a 17-yard touchdown with three minutes remaining that would’ve given the Packers a chance to tie the game with a two-point conversion. Although it wasn’t a drop because Charles Tillman got a hand on it, Adams had the chance to secure the catch before Tillman knocked it away. Cobb’s 53-yard touchdown on a deep ball early in the third quarter was his longest play of the season and the Packers’ second-longest passing play of the season.

Running backs

Starks: 55

Lacy: 19

John Kuhn: 10

Aaron Ripkowski: 2

Notes: Take out Rodgers’ scrambles – four runs for 22 yards – and the Packers averaged just 3.3 yards per carry. Starks was at 3.9 and Lacy at 2.0. For the season, Starks (4.3) is averaging more than a half-yard more per carry than Lacy (3.7).

Tight ends

Notes: Richard Rodgers had the first two-touchdown game of his career on 1-yard and 3-yard catches but averaged just 3.8 yards on his five receptions.

Offensive line

Notes: Both times the Packers used Tretter as an extra blocker, they ran to the opposite side. On the Packers’ second play from scrimmage, he lined up next to left tackle David Bakhtiari and Lacy ran right for a 1-yard loss. In the second quarter, Tretter lined up next to right tackle Bryan Bulaga, and Starks ran left for a 10-yard loss.