Packers Lose Lead Back Chris Brooks to Injured Reserve for at Least Four Games

Green Bay's running back room took a hit on Saturday when the Packers placed Chris Brooks on injured reserve, ruling him out for at least the next four games. Brooks, who has led all Packers running backs in snaps through the first four weeks of the season, hurt his ankle in the first half of last Sunday's win in Tampa. He missed the entire week of practice before being ruled out on Friday's final injury report, and Saturday's move confirms the injury will cost him the team's stretch against the Bears, Cowboys, Lions and Panthers. He will be eligible to return for the Week 9 matchup with the Patriots. The transaction explains a move Green Bay made earlier in the week: the Packers signed Pierre Strong Jr. off the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Thursday. Strong will now join Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd in the backfield rotation, and his experience as a kick returner across 46 NFL games with the Patriots and Browns gives the Packers another option there. Losing Brooks stings because of the roles he filled — he was the offense's most trusted blocker among the backs and a fixture in third-down passing situations. For a team already desperate for more consistent play at running back, the next month will test the depth behind him.