Green Bay Packers

This new photo of a much slimmer Eddie Lacy should make the Packers happy

Published Mar. 24, 2016 4:23 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Eddie Lacy got a lot of heat for his weight last season as it seemed to have a negative impact on his effectiveness as a running back. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy addressed the issue back in January, saying "he cannot play at the weight he did this year."

Lacy took McCarthy's comments to heart and began an offseason plan to shed some pounds. He's been working out with P90X founder Tony Horton in California, and Lacy has slimmed down significantly. Just take look at this picture that was reportedly taken by a fan on March 17.

Hey, look at Eddie Lacy..... https://t.co/vMPihKsHEv pic.twitter.com/aGcWQCRPAr
— Journal Sentinel (@journalsentinel) March 24, 2016

"He looked really fit and looked like he lost a lot of weight," Jeff Engen, the man with Lacy in the photo, told the Journal Sentinel. "Eddie was eating fish, was really friendly and conducting himself as a class act."

Engen said he's 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, and Lacy was "much thinner" than he was upon meeting the running back. If true, that's quite the change from Lacy's 234-pound playing weight from last season.

McCarthy has acknowledged Lacy's work this offseason, saying he's been hitting his targets so far.

"It sounds like things are going well for him," McCarthy said recently. "He looked good. ... He looked like that rookie guy."

A slimmer Lacy could give the Packers a much needed spark on offense next season, something they were lacking in the run game in 2015. Despite the fact that Green Bay re-signed James Starks, Lacy remains an integral part of the offense.