UPDATE (2:45 p.m. ET): The Green Bay Packers made it official Tuesday, announcing they’ve acquired running back Knile Davis from the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs will receive a conditional late-round draft pick in return, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Green Bay Packers, facing a short week with a depleted backfield, reportedly bolstered their running attack Tuesday morning.
The Packers acquired Knile Davis from the Kansas City Chiefs, according to The Kansas City Star’s Terez A. Paylor, who cited a source.
Green Bay is expected to be without running back James Starks on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears, and starter Eddie Lacy is dealing with an ankle injury. Starks also missed the Packers’ Week 6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving the Packers with just a banged-up Lacy and fullback Aaron Ripkowski as active running backs. Green Bay did feature wide receiver Ty Montgomery in the backfield, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers even mentioned after the game he wouldn’t mind seeing the team add a running back.
The trade makes sense for the Chiefs, too, who are in the exact opposite situation as the Packers. Kansas City now has a crowded backfield with the return of Jamaal Charles and the continued strong play of Spencer Ware, who ran for 131 yards on 24 carries on Sunday.
This deal probably is welcome news for Davis, who was buried on the depth chart behind Charles, Ware and Charcandrick West and really hasn’t been used much at all this season other than as a returner. He’s rushed just once (losing 2 yards) and has just two catches for 14 yards. He has been effective in the return game, though, averaging 21 yards on six returns.
His best season came in 2014 when he ran for a career-high 463 yards on 134 carries (3.5 yards per carry), scoring six touchdowns. He might be most effective as a pass-catcher, averaging 8.4 yards per reception for his career.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
