DuJuan Harris Placed On IR List
DuJuan Harris has been placed on the season-ending injured reserve list. Harris was expected to be a huge part of the team’s running game in 2013 but was injured while playing the Seattle Seahawks last week.
The IR list addition was confirmed by Vic Ketchman of Packers.com.
Following DuJuan’s injury coach Mike McCarthy said of the loss:
“He’s a young player I felt would be an important player for us on offense. It’s a tough blow for him. DuJuan was a big part of my individual focus for the season.”
It has been a tough off-season for Harris who spent most of training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Speaking to Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com, Harris called his injury a “tweak” which he then explained:
It is a tweak. My definition of a tweak is my leg is not off. If my leg is off, then it’s more than a tweak. But I can come back from this and I will come back full strength.
It’s tough. I faced the fact that it’s something that’s got to be done and I’m ready to go at it full strength.
Harris then added:
“It is what it is, you know? It’s something I’ve got to go through and must be done. I faced the fact a while ago so I’m ready to get on with it. I wish I could simulate the whole season, like a game.”
Harris only rushed for 157 yards in the regular season last year but took over in the playoffs to rush for 100 yards with seven caught passes fro 64 yards and two touchdowns in two games.
Filling in for Harris will be rookies Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin and veterans James Starks and Alex Green. According to Bleacher Reports’ Mike Chiari:
“At this point, all signs point to the rookie tandem of Lacy and Franklin getting the bulk of the carries. Starks has been productive for the Packers in the past, and Green has been a highly touted back as well, but both have been hampered by injuries and have struggled with consistency.”
With DuJuan Harris out for the season, Aaron Rodgers will come under added pressure as he loses a bit of his running game and that’s not a good situation for a guy who was sacked 51 times last season.
