The Packers walked into this stretch with a linebacker problem that looked big enough to crack the defense open. Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin were out, and the obvious fear was that Green Bay would spend weeks patching holes instead of playing fast.
That hasn’t happened.
Instead, the Packers have gotten steady work from Isaiah McDuffie and a much bigger burst from Ty’Ron Hopper. McDuffie has filled in capably for Cooper, piling up 33 total tackles and one forced fumble over the last four games. Hopper has been even more noticeable since Franklin fractured his shin during a collision in a Week 7 practice, putting together eight total tackles, three passes defensed, and one sack in the Thursday Night Football win over the Carolina Panthers.
His biggest moment came on the interception of Bryce Young.
HOP!
📺: Prime Video pic.twitter.com/UKq78KbUGa
- Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 30, 2026
Cooper was operating at a Pro Bowl-caliber level before his injury, so McDuffie’s job was never going to be about matching that production snap for snap. The Packers just needed him to be solid enough to keep the defense from slipping, and that’s exactly what he’s done.
Hopper’s emergence is the more surprising development. Green Bay needed someone to seize the opportunity, but few would have expected him to turn into such a difference-maker on Thursday night.
Franklin remains week-to-week and could be back for the Week 9 game against the New England Patriots, though the Packers may not feel any pressure to rush him after seeing Hopper handle two starts so well. When Franklin does return, Green Bay will have a real decision on its hands, because Hopper has played his way into the conversation for more snaps.
The long view looks even better for the Packers. McDuffie, Franklin, Hopper, and Cooper are all under contract through 2027, giving Green Bay a linebacker group that could stay intact for at least another season, barring any roster moves. That matters for a team that won’t have a first-round pick in 2027 and already has plenty of other needs to sort through.
For now, though, the story is simpler than that: the Packers found a way to survive the injuries, and Hopper may have forced his way into a much larger role if he keeps stacking plays like the ones he made against Carolina.
In Other News...
Packers May Face A Backfield Reset They Can't Ignore
The 2026 NFL trade deadline is already drawing attention, and Jordan Schultz has said he expects it to be one of the busier ones around the league. For the Packers, the intrigue centers on Jonathan Taylor, a player who has spent his entire career with the Colts while Indianapolis continues reshaping its roster and moving on from other established names. Green Bays interest makes sense on paper, especially with Taylor carrying a strong off-field reputation and a track record that has kept him among the leagues most recognizable backs.
The timing only adds to the conversation in Green Bay, where the backfield has become a more complicated topic than it looked a year ago. Josh Jacobs has dealt with legal issues tied to domestic dispute allegations, and the Packers are now being linked to a player whose profile is very different from the one they already have in place. If the Colts keep listening and the deadline market heats up as expected, this is the kind of situation that could force Green Bay to decide how aggressive it wants to be about a reset. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Make Their Josh Jacobs Stance Clear Amid Serious Allegations
Josh Jacobs is once again at the center of an NFL review, and the Packers are already making clear they expect him to stay on the roster while the process plays out. The league has expanded its investigation after new allegations surfaced, adding another layer of scrutiny to a player whose recent past already included a six-game absence on the commissioners exempt list following a no contest plea tied to an earlier arrest.
For Green Bay, the immediate football question is less about availability than about how long this situation lingers around the team. Jacobs has already dealt with league discipline once, and the Packers now find themselves waiting on the NFLs next move while the review continues. The teams stance is straightforward for now, but the broader picture remains unsettled as the investigation moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Micah Parsons Could Make Green Bays Defense Even More Dangerous
Micah Parsons is getting closer to a return, and the timing could hardly be better for a Packers defense already playing at an elite level. Green Bay brought Parsons in during August 2025, then had to wait while he worked back from the knee injury that ended his season in December. Even without him, the Packers have been disruptive all year, sitting atop the NFL in sacks and interceptions and showing the kind of balance that can change games in a hurry.
The next stretch will tell a lot about how much more dangerous this group can become before Parsons is back in the mix. Green Bay has the Patriots and Vikings coming up before his potential return, and the possibility of adding a pass rusher of his caliber in November only raises the stakes for the rest of the league. If the defense is already this productive, the idea of it getting another impact piece back is enough to make the Packers look even tougher down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]