Ty’Ron Hopper took Zaire Franklin’s spot in the lineup on Sunday, and that adjustment now looks like it will carry over into Thursday night. Matt LaFleur announced on Tuesday that Franklin will not play against the Panthers after suffering a hairline fracture in his leg during Thursday’s practice, when he was accidentally kicked.
The injury has now kept Franklin out for two straight games, and the Packers’ handling of the situation suggests they believe the absence may not be a long one. The team did not place Franklin on injured reserve, which is often a sign a club expects a player back after a relatively short stretch on the sideline.
What the Packers lose without Franklin
Franklin was one of the more productive defenders on the roster before the injury, ranking third on the team in tackles with 41. He also added two quarterback hits, giving Green Bay a steady presence in the middle of the defense before the setback.
For now, Hopper is the one getting the first chance to fill that spot. On Sunday, Isaiah McDuffie wore the green dot, which shows how the Packers have already started adjusting their linebacker responsibilities while Franklin is unavailable.
That makes Hopper’s role worth watching again this week. The Packers did not commit to a longer-term move at linebacker, and they have kept Franklin on the active roster instead of shifting him to injured reserve. In practical terms, that keeps the door open for a quicker return if the recovery continues on schedule. For more context on the linebacker’s opportunity, see Ty'Ron Hopper ready for the moment Green Bay drafted him for — Lions Vs Packers will tell the real story.
The immediate question is simple: who handles Franklin’s snaps until he is cleared? The answer on Sunday was Hopper, and unless something changes before Thursday night, the Packers appear ready to lean on that same lineup approach again.
