GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Devante Mays doesn't need to look any further than his own position group to understand how an NFL player must keep himself ready to play even when he's not playing.

Fellow Green Bay Packers rookie running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams have excelled at doing that, and it might be Mays' turn this week.

Jones was inactive for Week 1, didn't touch the ball until Week 4 and is now the team's leading rusher. Williams began the season as the backup and then slipped to No. 3 on the depth chart only to find himself as the No. 1 back again last Sunday after Jones hurt his knee and Ty Montgomery reinjured his broken ribs.

With Jones out 3-6 weeks and Montgomery's status up in the air this week, Mays could be the primary backup to Williams on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. It's a big jump for a player who has been inactive four times this season and has yet to play on offense let alone actually carry the ball.

"I think it's important for all your young guys to get ready," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's tough. You make the team, then you're not getting the reps with the game-plan reps getting ready for games. Next thing you know, you're in there. He'll be ready. Jamaal is definitely ready, and we're going to need everybody, especially in that room."

If nothing else, Mays should play a significant role on special teams since Williams likely will be taken off those units to save him for his work on offense. Williams, who rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries against the Bears, was given a game ball -- but it was for his play on special teams.

"Obviously, he probably won't get quite as many reps now because the running back situation, but that's what it is," special teams coach Ron Zook said of Williams. "That's the National Football League, and the way it is. You've got to have the next guy up. Like I told Mays, I said, ‘Hey, now it's going to hopefully be your job, your turn to do the same thing next week.'"

The Packers drafted three running backs -- Williams in the fourth round, Jones in the fifth and Mays in the seventh -- after the position was riddled with injuries last year, which prompted Montgomery's switch from receiver. General manager Ted Thompson kept all three on the roster even though their production in the preseason was minimal. Williams averaged just 2.4 yards per carry and Mays 2.7 in the preseason. Only Jones, at 5.5 yards per rush, showed much.

With Montgomery's status up in the air -- McCarthy said he's hopeful that he will be available this week but wouldn't know for sure until he seems if he can practice -- the Packers could be looking at a Williams-Mays running back combination, which is why Mays must be ready.