The Packers may have started the year with some uncertainty at linebacker, but Zaire Franklin has quickly become one of the most important pieces on the defense. He’s not just filling a role - he’s carrying one.
Franklin has played every snap through Green Bay’s first four games and ranks third on the team in tackles, trailing only Evan Williams and Edgerrin Cooper. That kind of durability matters, but so does the way it has helped the rest of the defense settle in. With Franklin wearing the green dot, Cooper was able to focus more fully on making plays, and that arrangement looked like a win for Green Bay.
Now the Packers need Franklin even more. Cooper is done for the year and, unfortunately, at least part of 2027 as well, which puts a heavier burden on Franklin at a time when the defense was already trying to hold together until Micah Parsons returned. Parsons’ comeback has apparently been slowed a bit, so Franklin’s role only grows from here.
That makes the decision to bring him in look even better in hindsight. Brian Gutekunst’s move to add Franklin as a replacement for Quay Walker, then rework his contract, once felt like a lot to invest in an aging and undersized linebacker. But the Packers only had to part with Colby Wooden, who was always a poor fit in Green Bay, to get it done.
And if you’re looking at the alternative, it’s easy to see why Franklin’s arrival matters. The Packers are not headed into a game against the Bears with Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper as the starting linebackers.
The outside view of the matchup is fairly balanced, though there is at least one national voice picking the Packers to upset the Bears. On the Bears side, the outlook is more restrained, even if Fishbain still likes their chances.
For Green Bay, though, the headline is Franklin. He’s been steady, available, and central to what the defense is trying to do right now. And beyond the field, he’s also supporting the community, giving Packers fans another reason to be glad he’s here.
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Packers Pass Rush May Be Close To A Huge Boost
Micah Parsons remains sidelined by a left knee injury, and the Packers are not expecting him back for Week 5, but there are signs the recovery is moving in the right direction. Head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst both have stressed that Parsons is making progress, even if the team is still keeping the timeline guarded because of how central he is to their plans.
The cautious approach makes sense for a pass rush that could look very different once Parsons is available again. For now, Green Bay is watching the rehab closely and waiting for the next step in his ramp-up, with his return date still uncertain as the Packers try to balance urgency with the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Why Packers Fans Still Talk About What No. 89 Came To Mean
Before it was attached to memorable catches and familiar Sunday moments, No. 89 carried a different kind of Green Bay weight. The number has been worn by a few recognizable Packers over the years, including Mark Chmura and James Jones, but the deeper thread in the jerseys history runs through a linebacker who helped define one of the franchises most dominant eras.
Dave Robinson arrived as a first-round pick in 1963 and became part of the force behind three consecutive NFL championships, plus two Super Bowl wins. His place in Packers history was cemented long ago with Hall of Fame recognition in Green Bay and later in Canton, which is why fans still bring his name up whenever the conversation turns to the best player to ever wear that number. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Rivalry Game Just Got More Complicated For Sunday
Caleb Williams return to practice Friday added a layer of uncertainty to an already charged NFC North matchup, and it matters plenty to the Packers as Sunday approaches. The Chicago quarterback had missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, leaving the Bears to lean on Tyson Bagent, who stepped in last week and helped guide them to a win over the New York Jets.
Williams is now listed as questionable, which leaves Chicago with a late call to make on its most important position. If he is not ready to go, Bagent would get the nod again, giving Green Bay a very different look to prepare for and turning an already familiar rivalry game into one with a little more suspense. [Read more 🡒]