The Green Bay Packers may have picked up a crucial win on Thanksgiving, but they didn’t come out of Detroit unscathed. At 8-3-1, they’re still firmly in the NFC playoff race, trailing only the 9-3 Chicago Bears in the NFC North. But with the Bears also picking up a win over the Eagles on Black Friday, the margin for error is razor-thin-and now, Green Bay will have to navigate the rest of the season without one of their key defensive anchors.
Devonte Wyatt Done for the Year
The loss of Devonte Wyatt to a season-ending broken ankle is a gut punch. Wyatt has been a force on the interior, setting the tone up front with his physicality, gap discipline, and ability to collapse the pocket. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t always show up in the box score but makes life easier for everyone around him-especially the linebackers behind him and the edge rushers who benefit from his interior push.
Now, the Packers will be turning to a pair of rookies-Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson-to step up in the trenches. That’s a tall order. Wyatt’s shoes aren’t easy to fill, and while both Stackhouse and Brinson have flashed potential, they’ll be tested early and often down the stretch.
Help Is on the Way
The good news? Green Bay isn’t just losing bodies-they’re getting some back, too. On Sunday, the Packers designated three players to return from injured reserve: running back MarShawn Lloyd, edge rusher Brenton Cox, and defensive lineman Collin Oliver.
Let’s break down what each of these returns could mean for a Packers team that’s gearing up for a brutal five-game stretch to close out the regular season.
MarShawn Lloyd: A Potential Spark in the Backfield
Lloyd, a third-round pick in 2024, hasn’t seen the field in over a year. A hamstring injury sidelined him during training camp, continuing a frustrating trend of injuries that also wiped out most of his rookie campaign. But when healthy, Lloyd brings a burst and versatility that can add a different dimension to the Packers’ ground game.
With the offense needing to stay balanced in December football-especially against physical defenses like Chicago and Baltimore-Lloyd’s return could be perfectly timed. If he can stay on the field, he’s a weapon the Packers haven’t had all season.
Brenton Cox: Edge Depth Returns
Cox is another player whose career has been defined as much by potential as availability. After a promising 2023 season where he notched 4.0 sacks in limited action, he suffered a groin injury in Week 1 and hasn’t played since. But with the pass rush needing reinforcements, especially in light of Wyatt’s absence, Cox could slide back into the rotation and provide some much-needed juice off the edge.
He’s not a starter, but if he can give them 15-20 high-effort snaps per game, that could be the difference in a tight December matchup. The Packers don’t need him to be a star-they just need him to be disruptive.
Collin Oliver: Timely Depth on the D-Line
Then there’s Collin Oliver, a fifth-round pick from this past draft who also missed training camp with a hamstring issue. Like Lloyd, he’s yet to play a regular-season snap. But with Wyatt out, Oliver’s return becomes more than just a developmental story-it’s a necessity.
He’s raw, sure, but Oliver has the kind of athletic profile that makes you believe he can hold his own in a rotational role. If he can give Green Bay quality reps down the stretch, it’ll go a long way toward stabilizing a defensive front that just lost one of its most reliable pieces.
The Road Ahead
The Packers’ final five games are no joke. Two matchups with the Bears loom large, with the NFC North potentially hanging in the balance. They’ll also face the Vikings and two AFC heavyweights in the Broncos and Ravens-both of whom are leading their divisions and playing with postseason urgency.
Every snap matters now, and the margin for error is slim. But with three young players returning to the fold and the team sitting in solid playoff position, Green Bay still controls its destiny. The loss of Wyatt hurts, no doubt-but if Lloyd, Cox, and Oliver can contribute, this team still has the depth and talent to make a run.
The next few weeks will define the Packers’ season. And with reinforcements arriving just in time, they might still have enough firepower to finish strong.