GREEN BAY, Wis. -- This is the second in a series looking at the Green Bay Packers' offseason roster by position as they head into organized team activity practices next week.
Previous installments: Quarterbacks.
Next up: Running backs.
Who they added: John Crockett (undrafted free agent), Alonzo Harris (undrafted free agent), Aaron Ripkowski (fullback, sixth-round pick).
Who's gone: DuJuan Harris.
Key holdovers: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, Rajion Neal, John Kuhn (fullback).
Roster spots likely available: Four or five.
Competition: The Packers didn't need a third halfback last year because Lacy and Starks stayed healthy. Both played in every game, so DuJuan Harris rarely saw any action. But the nature of the position says that's not the norm, which will make it an important battle for that the No. 3 spot. Undrafted rookies Crockett (from North Dakota State) and Alonzo Harris (Louisiana-Lafayette) will get the chance to compete with Neal, who was impressive last summer before a knee injury ended his preseason. The Packers thought so little of DuJuan Harris last season that they didn't even offer him an exclusive rights minimum contract this year.
Ripkowski could be the heir apparent at fullback, but what happens if the Packers aren't ready to dump Kuhn just yet? It would seem unlikely that that they'd keep two fullbacks. After all, some teams don't bother with any. But perhaps they would view one of them as the emergency No. 3 halfback, too.
Notable: Neal averaged 7.8 yards per carry and scored one touchdown in his only preseason game last summer before he injured his knee. He was waived injured at the end of camp but then returned to the practice squad in Week 10.
