From DuJuan Harris's very first carry – an 11-yard run against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 9, on which he ran over safety Ricardo Silva – in a Packers’ uniform on Dec. 9 after a practice-squad call-up, he played bigger than his height. He finished the regular season with 34 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns, a 4.6-yard average that was the best of the Packers’ cadre of running backs. In the playoffs, when he was designated as the team’s lead back, he carried 28 times for 100 yards and two TDs. Whether or not he can serve as an every-down back, however, is up for debate. Running backs coach Alex Van Pelt did not rule out the possibility, however, while also suggesting that it’s not in the Packers’ plans to have one running back carry the load.
“I don’t see why he couldn’t. Do we need him to be one? I don’t think we do,” Van Pelt said. “It would be tough for him to see a body of work for the season, if he wore down later in the season. But he was great for us when we had him. He was fresh and was quite the change-up from what we have in the room. But would we need him for every down? I don’t think we would. If we had a [Cedric Benson] back, [James Starks] and DuJuan, I think you would have to give everybody some touches.”
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