Green Bay Packers running back Cedric Benson is likely to miss eight weeks with a Lisfranc foot injury.
While multiple reports indicated Monday night that the injury was more serious, Benson said Sunday night after the Packers’ loss at Indianapolis that he felt his injury was a common sprain, which might’ve put him on the sideline for only 1-2 weeks.
“I was able to walk off, and they say guys who have that type of things aren’t able to walk off. They X-rayed it and it feels good.”
If the injury requires surgery, Benson would be out for the season.
The question for the Packers is how to get by without Benson, who consistently picked up positive yards despite not being able to run away from defenders once in the open field.
James Starks, who started ahead of Ryan Grant in 2011, was a healthy inactive Sunday. He is recovered from a turf toe injury that has been problematic for Starks most of the summer.
Alex Green, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, had a 41-yard run at Indianapolis but is inexperienced.
“I thought Cedric was really coming on the last couple weeks, I was excited about him, what he brings to the table,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Now, our younger backs will have to give us that because we need the run game. It’s important. I’m not interested in throwing it 50 times a game. So we just need to be more consistent.”
Fullback John Kuhn and Brandon Saine could also get carries in the base formation.
Benson signed as a free agent on Aug. 12 and became the starter. He had three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Bengals, who opted to sign BenJarvus Green-Ellis instead of bringing back Benson.