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Zaire Franklin could be back for Week 9
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- Zaire Franklin could be back for Week 9
(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In his Monday press conference, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stated that Mike linebacker Zaire Franklin, who has missed multiple games with a hairline fracture in his shin, could practice for the team in Week 9, as he's "day to day right now." The Packers have been down both of their starting off-ball linebackers recently, as Will linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is currently on the injured reserve with a torn Achilles tendon.
Prior to Franklin's injury, but after Cooper's, the Will linebacker position was split by Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper. Post-Franklin injury, McDuffie moved to Mike full-time, allowing Hopper to play Will full-time. The stress put on the linebacker position, a unit that generally plays a significant amount of special teams snaps for Green Bay, has led to the team bringing up Arron Mosby from the practice squad to play in the kicking game over the last few weeks.
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Beyond the linebacker position, LaFleur had some other comments on the depth chart on Monday. On the kicker front, the team is sticking with Trey Smack, based on his ability to rebound.
On the offensive line, LaFleur pushed back on the right guard position not looking good last week, when Laken Tomlinson was moved over from the left side to the right side for the first time in about a decade. At left guard, LaFleur stated that Aaron Banks' struggles were mostly explained by Banks missing a lot of time recently. 69 of his 91 season-long offensive snaps (76 percent) came last week, as Banks has been dealing with both knee tendinitis and a toe injury in 2026.
