Packers RB Eddie Lacy declines to reveal reason for limited role

DETROIT -- Something happened between Eddie Lacy’s two most productive performances of the season and Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Lions.

But no one was willing to say what it was.

“I don’t feel as though that’s something I should get into yet,” Lacy said during his brief comments following the Green Bay Packers’ 27-23 victory at Ford Field.

After the first back-to-back 100-yard games of his NFL career, Lacy’s role in the Packers' offense was significantly reduced. James Starks started the game and rookie John Crockett, promoted from the practice squad shortly before kickoff, took some critical second-half snaps.

Lacy finished with just one yard from scrimmage (four yards on five carries and minus-three yards on his lone reception). All of it came in the first half.

Eddie Lacy didn't get the ball very often against the Lions on Thursday night.

Crockett led the Packers' running backs with 22 yards on five carries, while Starks rushed nine times for 15 yards but also caught five passes for 45 yards. Starks’ fumble on a third-quarter carry actually resulted in the Packers’ first touchdown because Randall Cobb recovered it in the end zone.

“Eddie didn’t have a great week, so we went with James,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “The idea was to come in there with a one-two punch. What can I say about Crockett? He’s a guy that’s just been working super-hard and we felt like he deserved an opportunity. The initiative was more for special teams, but as we got going in the game and the things that were happening in the game and with his running style, I decided to stick him in there and he gave us a big spark. I think you see the way his teammates react to him and just the energy that he brings. So it was a good jolt for us.”

As for Lacy -- who admitted earlier in the week that his third season has been "a bit of a roller-coaster, [but] it’s starting to level out” -- he said after the game that he wasn’t sure where he stands with his coaches.

“Man, that’s something I don’t know about,” Lacy said. “We’ll see as the season goes on.”