The Green Bay Packers have re-signed restricted free agent Najeh Davenport. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing Friday.
A powerful running back, Davenport returns for his fourth season in Green Bay, where he has served as the top backup to Pro Bowler Ahman Green, and also as the team's primary kickoff returner. In 11 games last season, with one start, he rushed for 359 yards on 71 carries (5.1 avg.), including two touchdowns; he also had four receptions for 33 yards and 14 kickoff returns for 286 yards (20.4 avg.).
Davenport, a 6-foot-1, 250-pound veteran out of Miami (Fla.), enjoyed the top performance of his career vs. St. Louis Nov. 29, rushing 19 times for 178 yards and a touchdown. The output ranked as the NFL's third-highest total over the last 20 years for a player in his first league start, in addition to being the fifth-highest one-game total in team history.
Originally a Packers compensatory selection in the fourth round of the 2002 draft, Davenport has averaged 5.1 yards per carry (187 carries, 963 yards) with five touchdowns, and 25.6 yards per kickoff return (36 returns, 921 yards).
