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Franklin (shin) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Panthers, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
Franklin is considered week-to-week due to a hairline fracture in his leg, and the injury will cause him to miss a second consecutive game. Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper will continue to serve as the Packers' starters at inside linebacker in the absence of Franklin, whose next chance to play is Week 9 against the Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 8.
Packers' Zaire Franklin: Dealing with hairline fracture in leg
Rotowire
Franklin suffered a hairline fracture in his shin during last Thursday's practice, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
The veteran linebacker missed Sunday's loss to the Lions and is expected to miss additional time, but coach Matt LaFleur indicated Franklin will not be placed on injured reserve. Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper will continue to hold down the fort at linebacker for the Packers while Franklin is sidelined.
Packers' Zaire Franklin: Won't play against Detroit
Rotowire
Franklin (shin) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Lions, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
Head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters Friday that Franklin injured his shin on a collision during Thursday's practice, and the injury is severe enough for the veteran linebacker to miss his first game of the 2026 season. He's played every defensive snap in five of six games, and that workload will likely fall on Isaiah McDuffie or Nick Niemann for Sunday's NFC North tilt. Franklin's next chance to play is Week 8 against the Panthers on Thursday.
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Packers' Zaire Franklin: Managing shin issue
Rotowire
Franklin practiced in a limited capacity Thursday due to a shin injury.
Franklin wasn't on the injury report Wednesday, so he may have suffered the injury at some point during practice. Regardless, the 30-year-old linebacker's practice status Friday should shed light on whether he's at risk of missing Sunday's tilt against Detroit. Franklin has played every defensive snap in five of Green Bay's six games so far this season.
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Packers' Zaire Franklin: Double-digit stops for first time in 2026
Rotowire
Franklin tallied 10 tackles (three solo) during the Packers' 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday.
Franklin played every single defensive snap for the third week in a row and finished Thursday's game tied with Evan Williams for most tackles on the Packers. It was the first time this season that Franklin logged double-digit stops after doing so five times across 17 regular-season games in 2025. The veteran linebacker is up to 21 tackles (seven solo) and is on pace to crack the 100-tackle mark for a fifth consecutive year.
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Packers' Zaire Franklin: Four tackles in regular-season opener
Rotowire
Franklin recorded four total tackles (two solo) in Sunday's 39-22 loss to Minnesota.
Franklin didn't have the most impressive regular-season debut with Green Bay, but he was on the field for all 64 of the team's defensive snaps in Week 1. The linebacker registered at least 125 total tackles in each of his last four seasons with the Colts prior to being traded to the Packers in March, and he will likely be busier moving forward this year.
