Packers RB Starks suffers sprained knee

Running back James Starks has a sprained knee and a sore ankle, leaving his availability in doubt for the Green Bay Packers' game at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day.

Starks hurt his knee late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's victory over Tampa Bay. The Packers did not practice Monday, but Starks likely would not have been able to go if they did. Packers coach Mike McCarthy says the injury isn't as bad as it appeared to be initially, and is holding out hope that Starks might be able to practice Tuesday.

Starks was a critical part of the Packers' success late last season and appears to be supplanting Ryan Grant as the team's primary running back.