Green Bay got a much better injury update on Zaire Franklin than it first feared.
The Packers linebacker is dealing with a hairline fracture to the shin, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, after he took a knee to the shin in practice. Franklin had already missed Green Bay’s Week 7 loss to the Lions after colliding with another Packers player earlier in the week, and the short week means he is expected to sit out at least one more game when the Packers face the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football.
For now, the news stops short of the worst-case scenario. Rapoport does not believe Franklin will be placed on IR or need surgery at this point.
That matters for Green Bay, because Franklin has been one of the most important additions to the roster since the team traded for him in March. The 30-year-old has brought exactly the kind of steadiness the Packers wanted from a veteran linebacker, and through six games he has already put up 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a pass deflection.
He has also filled a leadership role that showed up immediately. It’s rare for a newcomer to be named a captain in his first season with a team, but that’s what Franklin has meant to the Packers.
With Micah Parsons still out on the edge, Franklin was supposed to help bridge the gap and steady a linebacker group that includes younger players like Lukas Van Ness and Edgerrin Cooper. He has done that while ranking third on the team in tackles, even with Sunday’s game on the shelf.
There was real concern when Franklin first went down in practice, especially because he has been remarkably durable throughout his career. He has played 16 or more games in every season to this point, a run that makes this kind of setback stand out even more.
Green Bay can at least breathe easier now, with Franklin’s injury looking less severe than initially feared. At this stage, his return could even line up with Parsons’ return, giving the Packers another boost as they try to keep pace in the NFC North.
In Other News...
Packers Face A New Receiver Concern Ahead Of Thursday Night
The Packers went into the week with the usual short-week injury anxiety, but the concern around their receiver room stands out as Thursday night approaches in Carolina. Center Sean Rhyan and linebacker Zaire Franklin are already ruled out, and while several other players were limited in practice, the offense now has to account for another potential absence at a position where timing matters even more on a compressed schedule.
Matthew Goldens status is still being worked through and his availability against Carolina is uncertain, which leaves Green Bay with one more decision to sort out before kickoff. If Golden cant go, the Packers may need to turn to Isaiah Neyor from the practice squad for the first time this season, a reminder that even a routine injury report can quickly reshape the depth chart on a Thursday night. [Read more 🡒]
Matt LaFleurs Micah Parsons Update Gives Packers Fans Real Hope
Micah Parsons still has not returned to practice as he works his way back from the major left knee injury that has kept him on the sideline, but there is at least some optimism coming from the Packers sideline. Matt LaFleur said he hopes Parsons can get back onto the field soon, which is the sort of update Green Bay has been waiting for as it tries to piece together its pass rush without one of its most disruptive defenders.
For now, though, the timeline remains cautious. Parsons has already been ruled out for Week 8, leaving Week 9 against the Patriots as the earliest possible return if his progress in practice keeps moving in the right direction. Until he gets that first full practice under his belt, the Packers can only treat this as encouraging news rather than a true comeback date. [Read more 🡒]
Micah Parsons Just Gave One AFC Contender A Ton Of Hype
Micah Parsons used his podcast to put a surprising spotlight on Cincinnati, saying he believes the Bengals can climb all the way to the AFC's top spot and earn the conferences first-round bye. It was the kind of public vote of confidence that tends to travel fast in the NFL, especially when it comes from a player with Parsons profile and when the team in question has already built a rsum that suggests it belongs in the conversation.
Cincinnati has been stacking up results behind an offense that stays dangerous and a defense that has taken a noticeable step forward. Joe Burrow has been efficient from the pocket, Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase keep giving the Bengals a pair of high-end targets, and the overall profile is strong enough that Parsons saw a team capable of finishing among the leagues best on both sides of the ball. For a contender still trying to separate itself from the pack, that kind of outside belief only adds to the intrigue. [Read more 🡒]