The Green Bay Packers released injured second-year running back Johnathan Franklin, the team announced Friday.
On Thursday, Franklin announced he would not be playing in 2014 because of a neck injury.
Franklin, a second-year player out of UCLA, was drafted by Green Bay in the fourth round in 2013. He played in the first 11 games before seeing his rookie season cut short in Week 12 when he suffered the neck injury on his return of the opening kickoff of the game.
For the season, Franklin rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown, caught four passes for 30 yards and totaled 82 yards on four kickoff returns.
“It’s never easy releasing a player, but it’s especially difficult when a young man’s opportunity is taken away from him because of an injury,” general manager Ted Thompson said.
