Starks (ankle) was wearing pads during Thursday's practice, Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin reports.

Starks' activity level is unknown, but a limited showing is the most likely scenario in his return to drills. In any case, his presence is an encouraging sign as the week draws to a close, with Friday's injury report forecasting his availability Sunday at New Orleans.

Starks (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Starks alternated modest showings with no touches through the first four contests of the season, but with appearances in three consecutive games, he's spelled Eddie Lacy admirably out of the Packers' backfield. During that stretch, Starks has averaged nine carries for 37.7 yards and 1.7 catches for 6.7 yards per week, while reaching the end zone on one occasion. With an ankle injury now in tow, though, his status is clouded in advance of Sunday's game in New Orleans.

Starks finished Sunday's game against the Panthers with seven carries for 36 yards and a touchdown. He left in the third quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.

Starks' injury didn't appear serious, and the Packers may have sent him back out on the field if they didn't hold a large lead. In any case, we'll monitor his practice workload leading up to next Sunday's game against the Saints. Green Bay has been making a concerted effort to get Starks the ball in recent weeks, and he is usually good for eight to 10 carries and around 40 rushing yards in his current role. His touchdown Sunday was a fine piece of running.

Starks suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's game against the Panthers and is considered questionable to return.

Starks' left ankle needed to be re-taped following a run, but the running back's ailment is considered minor. Nonetheless, given the current lopsided score of 35-3 in Sunday's game, the Packers may opt to keep Starks out of harm's way and on their sideline. Prior to exiting, Starks rushed seven times for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Starks had eight carries for 31 yards and two receptions for 11 yards in Sunday's 27-24 victory over Miami.

Eddie Lacy mustered just 40 yards on 14 carries, so the Packers turned to James Starks at times in the second half, especially near the end of the game. If something were to happen to Lacy, Starks would immediately be a hot pickup, but for now his value is mostly limited to deep leagues and as a Lacy handcuff.

Starks had 12 carries for 46 yards, adding two receptions for two yards, in Thursday's 42-10 win over the Vikings.

Starks got a bunch of his work in garbage time but also handled a couple of drives during the first half. Meanwhile, Eddie Lacy had his finest game of the season, rumbling for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, with another 27 yards from three receptions. Starks should continue to see a good amount of touches for a backup, but Lacy is still the workhorse here.

The Packers will make it a point to keep Starks involved in the game plan moving forward, ESPN Wisconsin reports.

Starks did not receive a carry in two of the Packers' first four games, and both head coach Mike McCarthy and running back coach Sam Gash said they would make it a point to prevent that from happening again. Fantasy owners should not expect Starks to start splitting carries with Eddie Lacy by any means, but look for the Packers to try and get Starks more involved in the offense, particularly with Lacy averaging just 3.0 YPC through the first four weeks.

Starks did not record any statistics in Sunday's victory over the Bears.

Starting running back Eddie Lacy averaged just 2.8 yards per carry Sunday, but Starks still only saw one snap during the contest. Starks maintains some fantasy value given his output potential in the event of a Lacy injury, but he has tallied just 86 total yards through four weeks.

Starks had eight carries for 38 yards Sunday against the Lions.

While Starks led the team in rushing yards Sunday, Eddie Lacy continues to be the lead back in Green Bay. The Packers have faced three of the league's best run defenses to start the season, so while the Week 4 matchup against the Bears is a good one, Lacy will likely dominate the touches.

Starks did not record a touch in Sunday's victory over the Jets.

The Packers called just 16 running plays while spending much of Sunday's game in catch-up mode, and none of them went Starks' way. He has some value as a handcuff to Eddie Lacy, but with 48 total yards through two games, his production figures to be sporadic at best as long as Lacy remains on the field.

Starks had 37 yards on seven carries and 11 yards on two receptions in Thursday's game against the Seahawks, while teammate Eddie Lacy left in the fourth quarter and was later diagnosed with a concussion, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports.

The Packers have 10 days before their next game, but Lacy's history could be problematic, as the former Crimson Tide star missed Week 3 last season because of a concussion. If Lacy can't play next Sunday against the Jets, Starks will likely get the start and most of the touches, with DuJuan Harris working as the backup. While the matchup looks tough, Starks would still be an attractive option in many leagues, as the clear-cut starting running back in a high-powered offense. It's worth noting that the Jets' pass defense looks much weaker than their run defense, meaning Starks or Lacy could turn in a big fantasy day via touchdowns and receptions, even if the ground yardage is hard to come by.

Starks took four carries for nine yards and failed to haul in his only target in Saturday's preseason victory at St. Louis.

The first-team offense was intact this time around, with Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy back in the fold. Lacy garnered all running back reps on the first drive, but the second one featured Starks, who couldn't repeat last Saturday's production (six rushes for 49 yards and a touchdown). While Starks gave way to DuJuan Harris and company thereafter, Starks' status as Lacy's primary backup doesn't seem to have changed much with Saturday's dour outing.

Starks gained 49 yards and a touchdown on six carries in Saturday's preseason opener against the Titans.

With Eddie Lacy held out, Starks got the start and rumbled on the first drive. DuJuan Harris came in for the second drive and didn't do much, reinforcing the notion that Starks will likely serve as Lacy's top backup.

James Starks didn't miss a single day of offseason practices.

James Starks' two-year deal with Green Bay has a base value of $3,165,626.

He got a $725,000 signing bonus, the only guaranteed portion of the contract. 11.5 percent of the deal is tied up in per-game roster bonuses, which Starks will only get if he's active for games. It's a smart move by GM Ted Thompson, arguably the savviest contract negotiator among NFL general managers. Starks will return as Eddie Lacy's handcuff, safely out in front of Johnathan Franklin.

Packers re-signed RB James Starks to a two-year contract.

Starks, 28, was scheduled to meet with the Steelers on Monday but cancelled the visit and is re-upping in Green Bay as Eddie Lacy's backup. Lacy is going to carry the load while Starks sees his 4-8 carries per week as a change-of-pace back. With Starks back in the fold, 2013 fourth-rounder Johnathan Franklin and 2012 revelation DuJuan Harris will compete for No. 3 duties.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Packers are expected to re-sign free agent James Starks to a two-year contract.

Starks visited the Steelers on Monday and reportedly had two other teams interested in him. After rushing for 493 yards and three scores on 89 carries (5.5 YPC), it's a little surprising the 28-year-old couldn't find a team to offer him a chance to compete for a bigger role. In Green Bay, he'll return as the No. 2 behind Eddie Lacy, leaving DuJuan Harris and Johnathan Franklin fighting for scraps.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the Packers remain in the mix for free agent James Starks.

Other than a visit with the Steelers on Monday, Starks hasn't drawn any other known interest one week into free agency. The 28-year-old is our fourth-best free-agent back left on the market, behind Andre Brown, Knowshon Moreno, and Maurice Jones-Drew. Starks would be more of a luxury for the Packers to bring back.

Free agent RB James Starks will visit the Steelers on Monday.

The Steelers are an ideal landing spot for Starks, who posted 493 yards, four touchdowns, and a 5.53 YPC in a bounce-back 2013 season. Starks would immediately take over as the No. 2 running back behind Le'Veon Bell.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that "it sounds like" the Packers are interested in re-signing impending free agent James Starks.

They may be interested, but we can't really see it happening. The Packers have talented runners in Johnathan Franklin and DuJuan Harris behind Eddie Lacy and aren't going to dole out the cash it'll take to keep Starks. After a bounce-back season in 2013, Starks should have a number of suitors.