GREEN BAY, Wis. -- James Starks not only was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, but the Green Bay Packers running back may miss several weeks because of a knee injury suffered this week.
Starks was downgraded from questionable to out following practice on Saturday. The veteran backup reported some pain in his knee after a workout Tuesday, and the initial diagnosis is a meniscus injury, according to a source.
The Packers are still trying to determine the severity of the injury and a course of action for treatment, in part because Starks spent most of the week out of town to attend his grandmother's funeral.
It leaves the Packers in a difficult spot, considering Eddie Lacy has a left ankle injury that prevented him from finishing last Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Lacy was listed as questionable on Friday's injury report after practicing on a limited basis this week, and his status did not change Saturday.
"Eddie did well [in practice] with his limited work," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday. "We're making progress. So hopefully we'll continue to make progress."
McCarthy also could use receivers Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery out of the backfield, if necessary. They have combined for seven carries this season, and Cobb said this week that it's possible he and Montgomery need to be on high alert for additional rushing duty.
The Packers on Saturday activated defensive end Mike Pennel and cornerback Demetri Goodson off the suspended list. The Packers had an open roster spot after they released quarterback Joe Callahan on Thursday, and the other spot was created by releasing DT Brian Price, who likely will be added to the practice squad if he is unclaimed off waivers.