<
>

Christine Michael's debut with Packers will have to wait

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Christine Michael era for the Green Bay Packers will have to wait.

The running back acquired off waivers on Wednesday apparently didn’t get in enough work in time to play Sunday night against the Washington Redskins and was inactive for the game.

Because Michael replaced Don Jackson on the roster, it left the Packers with James Starks as the only natural halfback available. Jackson sustained a knee injury in practice on Wednesday and went on injured reserve, where he joined fellow halfback Eddie Lacy.

Michael, who was cut by the Seahawks on Tuesday, took a red-eye flight Wednesday night from Seattle and arrived in time for Packers practice on Thursday but took only limited reps.

The Packers also have converted receiver Ty Montgomery, who has played extensively out of the backfield, and fullbacks Aaron Ripkowski and Joe Kerridge. However, Kerridge has not touched the ball yet this season.

The Packers are the only team in the NFL that doesn’t have a rushing touchdown by a running back. In fact, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has the team’s only rushing scores of the season.

Sunday’s game marked the return of outside linebacker Clay Matthews and tight end Jared Cook after lengthy absences. Matthews has missed the last three games because of a hamstring injury, while Cook had not played since his right ankle injury on Sept. 25.

Linebacker Carl Bradford, who was promoted from the practice squad on Saturday, was active and will make his NFL debut. The fourth-round pick in 2014 has never played in a regular-season game. With Jake Ryan (ankle) inactive, Bradford will back up Blake Martinez and Joe Thomas.

The Packers’ other inactives were: CB Damarious Randall (groin), G T.J. Lang (ankle), C JC Tretter (knee), OLB Jayrone Elliott (healthy scratch) and DT Christian Ringo (healthy scratch).