Packers claim Christine Michael off waivers

By foxsports
Published

The Green Bay Packers' are bringing in an intriguing reinforcement to help solve their running back woes.

The Packers claimed former Seattle Seahawks running back Christine Michael off waivers Wednesday, adding a player who is 19th in the NFL in rushing just days after third-down back James Starks returned from a knee injury.

Michael was a surprise cut Tuesday, as the Seahawks seemingly discarded their leading rusher due to the impressive play of rookie C.J. Prosise and the impending return of former starter Thomas Rawls.

Michael appeared to have found a home (again) with the Seahawks after bouncing around the league last season, and has rushed for 469 yards and six touchdowns on the season, averaging four yards per attempt on 117 carries.

Now in his fourth season, Michael was a second-round pick of the Seahawks in 2013 following a four-year career at Texas A&M. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a seventh-round pick last September, before being waived just two months later, and was eventually signed to the Washington Redskins' practice squad.

Michael returned to the Seahawks in December, rushing for 192 yards in three games.

The Packers moved versatile receiver Ty Montgomery to the backfield after losing Starks and starter Eddie Lacy to injury earlier this season, while promoting undrafted rookie Don Jackson from the practice squad and trading for Kansas City Chiefs running back Knile Davis in an effort to improve their No. 21-ranked running game. Jackson has carried the ball just 10 times for 32 yards while Davis was subsequently cut.

Jackson was placed on injured reserve, making room for Michael.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Michael could have ended up on a different NFC North team, tweeting Wednesday night: "Vikings also put in waiver claim for former Seahawks RB Christine Michael, per source, but Packers higher in waiver order."

Lacy indicated on his blog Wednesday that he is making progress in his recovery from an ankle injury, and remains the team's leading rusher with 360 yards on the season.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has accounted for all three of the Packers' rushing touchdowns.