While a running back may or may not be in the draft plans for the Packers, they're doing all they can to ensure that they have fortified depth in their backfield.

That was made evident on Wednesday afternoon when it was announced that the team had signed undrafted running back Don Jackson to his exclusive rights tender. He'll be with the team in 2017 to round out a thin group of tailbacks barring any changes between now and September, which is definitely not out of the cards.

Jackson's exclusive rights tag means he wasn't allowed to negotiate with other teams other than the team who issued the initial tender. In this case, Green Bay kept Jackson around despite finishing the season on injured reserve, however, prolonged the official acceptance of his tender offer. 

A former member of the Nevada Wolf Pack, Jackson was a part of the undrafted haul for the Packers in May of last year. After flip-flopping between being released, being signed to the practice squad and then eventually the active roster for three games, Jackson suffered a hand injury that subsequently ended his season. He finished 2016 with just 10 carries for 32 yards, making his debut against the Chicago Bears on Thursday Night Football and toughing through the aforementioned left-hand injury through the duration of the next two games.

Unlike Brandon Burks and Alonzo Harris in the preseason, Jackson flew under the radar and ultimately, ended up sticking with the team once signed to the practice squad in September. It's Ty Montgomery, Christine Michael and Jackson stockpiling the running back position in Green Bay at the moment.

On the opposite side of the ball, there was some news issued hours prior to the Jackson signing pertaining to the Packers' newest acquisition in defensive tackle Ego Ferguson.

It was reported Wednesday morning that Ferguson had failed his physical just two days after signing with the Packers. Luckily, the team won't have to pay Ferguson the $980,981 that would've been owed had he made the final roster in September. It's unknown whether the failed physical was attributed to the surgically-repaired shoulder that kept him out all of last season or the knee injury that landed him on injured reserve in October of 2015.

The Packers were adding a liability to their roster in Ferguson, who was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. After playing in all 16 games during his rookie season, he went on to play in just four of the next 32 games prior to his knee injury. He registered two sacks and three contested passes in 2014.

After being waived, Ferguson's departure leaves Ricky Jean Francois as the most recent defensive line addition for the Packers.

For a team who is seemingly on the cusp of being one of the more bruised and battered clubs year by year, perhaps the failed physical and timely release of Ferguson isn't such a bad thing.