Zaire Franklin's Practice Mishap Turns Into a Hairline Fracture, But the Packers Are Dodging IR

The Green Bay Packers are learning the hard way that friendly fire still counts on the injury report. Linebacker Zaire Franklin missed last week’s game after taking an accidental kick to the shin during practice, and now Ian Rapoport reports that collision actually resulted in a hairline fracture in his leg.

Getting injured in a game is an occupational hazard. Getting your leg fractured by a stray cleat on a Thursday afternoon in October is the kind of bad luck that makes you want to burn some sage in the locker room.

"Ian Rapoport reported the hairline fracture and Green Bay's decision to avoid IR."

The Packers are officially keeping Franklin off Injured Reserve, which is the only piece of good news here. By avoiding IR, Green Bay is banking on him returning in less than the mandatory four games. For a defense that just dropped a tight 20-17 divisional rock fight to the Detroit Lions without him, getting him back quickly is the difference between holding the line and springing a leak.

Franklin has been exactly what the Packers paid for when they traded with the Indianapolis Colts back in March. The 2024 Pro Bowler already racked up 41 tackles in his first six starts for Green Bay. You do not just replace a guy with 138 career games of experience by asking nicely.

Instead, the Packers are handing the keys to the middle of their defense to Ty'Ron Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie. Hopper is a 2024 third-round pick who just made his third career start against Detroit. That is a massive shift in defensive communication for a team trying to navigate a brutal NFC North race.

Oddsmakers will definitely be adjusting Green Bay's defensive props until number 44 is back on the field. For now, the Packers just have to survive the next couple of weeks and maybe mandate shin guards at their next padded practice.