Packers RB Ty Montgomery's exit opens door for Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams
Tom SilversteinGREEN BAY - The math is easy for Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams.
There were three backs sharing time; now there are two because Ty Montgomery was traded to Baltimore. Divide the available carries by two instead of three and there is suddenly some clarity as to how he and Aaron Jones will be used.
“Honestly, yeah,” Williams said Wednesday. “We just lost a (guy), so it makes things a little bit easier between me and (Jones). We know a little bit more about what the rotation is and how everything is going to go.”
Part of the reason Montgomery was traded might have been the frustration he showed after getting pulled from the game against the Los Angeles Rams. Montgomery then proceeded to field a kickoff he was supposed to down and lose a fumble that cost the Packers a chance for a game-winning drive.
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Montgomery swore he didn’t return the kick for selfish reasons, but some of his teammates questioned his thought process anonymously to NFL.com after the game. Montgomery said he couldn’t trust the teammates who ripped him anonymously and general manager Brian Gutekunst decided to settle the issue by trading Montgomery.
When asked if there were players in the locker room who didn’t trust Montgomery any more or if the players needed to talk about the criticisms after the game, quarterback Aaron Rodgers only addressed the latter.
“Obviously, people were disappointed about how that game ended, but we haven’t had any discussions about that (trust),” Rodgers said.
Williams said Montgomery was probably frustrated with playing time, but thinks he might get more of a chance to play in Baltimore. He said he supported Montgomery and was hoping his former teammate would get an opportunity to show his talent.
As for himself, Williams said he has never gotten frustrated over snaps or carries because he had to share them last year and all through college.
He leads the team in carries with 63 for 233 (3.7 average), Jones is second with 44 for 274 yards (6.2) and Montgomery third with 26 for 105 (4.0). Against the Rams, the Packers called just 18 rushing plays and Jones got the most carries with 12.
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“Honestly, it’s just about adapting to your surroundings and the type of offense you’re in and how many key players you have on the team,” Williams said. “I’m not frustrated with the carries or anything like that, it’s just more a different type of system you’re in.
“You just get your own self going, knowing whatever carries you get you just have to make them count when you can.”
The Packers did replace Montgomery on the roster with another running back: 5-11, 228-pound practice squad back Tra Carson. But Carson, who entered the league in 2016 and spent two seasons with Cincinnati (no appearances), will get a snap or two at best unless either Jones or Williams gets hurt.
The Packers replaced Carson on the practice squad with running back 5-11, 216-pound back Lavon Coleman, an undrafted free agent who was in training camp with Houston and spent a short while on Seattle’s practice squad.