GREEN BAY, Wis. — The first time Eddie Lacy faced the 49ers, he got benched after his first career fumble led to a San Francisco touchdown.
The Green Bay Packers' rookie halfback hasn't fumbled since – and he'll get a chance in Sunday's NFC wild-card playoff game to show the 49ers how far he has come.
"I think I developed a lot," Lacy said Friday. "I'm playing a lot faster, a lot calmer. I think I'm a much better player now than I was then."
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A thickly built second-round draft pick out of Alabama, Lacy has run for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns, making him a strong candidate for rookie of the year despite an ankle injury that has bothered him the past month.
He was limited in practice this week but listed as probable on Friday's injury report, along with everyone else on the Packers' injury report except linebacker Clay Matthews, who is out with a broken thumb.
"I definitely feel a lot better," Lacy said.
That's good news for the Packers, who ranked seventh in rushing at 133.5 yards a game this season – up from 20th in 2012 and their highest ranking since they were third in 2003, with Ahman Green at the top of his game.
"He's always been a hard runner. He's just gotten into a groove," offensive coordinator Tom Clements said of Lacy, who's listed at 5-11 and 230 pounds.
"It's unusual for a single tackler to bring him down. He's always fighting and pushing hard and trying to get extra yards, and that motivates (the offensive line) to do what they can to help him get his yards."
Sunday, they'll be going against one of the NFL's top run defenses on what's expected to be a frigid afternoon at Lambeau Field.
In the first meeting this season, the 49ers held Green Bay to 63 yards on 19 carries, including 41 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown for Lacy, who admitted being nervous.
"He's a totally different back. It's night and day," receiver James Jones said. "Way more comfortable. Way more confident. They'll have to account for him."
Despite a projected game-time temperature Sunday around zero, Lacy said he'll stick with his custom of not wearing sleeves.
He's not taking any chances with what that might to do to his ball security, given what happened four months ago in San Francisco.
"I like being on the field," Lacy said, "so I try not to make mistakes that'll get you taken off of it."
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Fumble in first clash with 49ers changed Eddie Lacy's rookie season (BLOG) Updated at :
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