The Green Bay Packers will be without their second-leading tackler on Sunday. Linebacker Zaire Franklin has been ruled out of the game at Detroit because of a shin injury, the latest development in a Zaire Franklin injury story that moved quickly from a Thursday injury-report addition to a Friday confirmation from coach Matt LaFleur.
How the injury happened
Franklin absorbed a knee to the shin during a collision, according to LaFleur. The Packers added him to the injury report on Thursday, and by Friday the coach had ruled him out for the Lions game. LaFleur also said the injury is not expected to be a long-term issue, though no specific return date has been established.
What Franklin has meant to Green Bay
Franklin has 41 tackles this season, trailing only safety Evan Williams, who leads the team with 49. Green Bay acquired Franklin in March to strengthen its linebacker group, sending defensive tackle Colby Wooden to Indianapolis in the trade.
Before arriving in Green Bay, Franklin spent eight seasons with the Colts, who drafted him from Syracuse in 2018. His most productive campaign came in 2024, when he earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro recognition and led the NFL with 173 combined tackles. That high-volume tackling was a major part of his profile in Indianapolis.
Who steps in at linebacker
LaFleur expressed confidence in the three linebackers available behind Franklin. Isaiah McDuffie has 22 combined tackles and two starts in six games this season. Ty’Ron Hopper has 12 combined tackles, and Nick Niemann has five. Which of them will start against Detroit has not been announced.
The Packers will also lean on their overall defensive production. Williams, a safety, tops the team in tackles, while the linebacker rotation will be tested without Franklin’s usual workload.
Stakes for Packers and Lions
Green Bay enters Sunday at 4-2 and is chasing a fourth consecutive win. Detroit is 3-2. The game is the Packers’ next opportunity to extend their streak, but they will have to do it without a player who has been central to their defensive plans since the trade.
For now, the focus is on recovery. LaFleur’s assessment suggests Franklin should not be sidelined for an extended period, but the exact severity of the shin injury and a firm timeline for his return remain unclear. The Packers will evaluate their options as the week concludes and prepare for a Lions team that is also above .500.
