The Green Bay Packers took a tough 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but a more serious potential blow seemed to be looming with middle linebacker Zaire Franklin’s injury. Turns out, the man has a hairline fracture in his leg, which is a scary phrase to hear for any key player.
That Hairline Fracture? Not as Bad as It Sounds, Apparently
So, Franklin missed Sunday’s game, with the team originally calling it a shin injury from a practice kick last Thursday. Now we know the real deal: sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that it’s a hairline fracture. Oof. But here’s the wild part: Green Bay didn’t even put him on injured reserve! That signals the team believes he’ll be back on the field after missing “minimal games.” Remember, if he went on IR, he’d be out until at least Week 13 against the Saints, especially with their Week 11 bye. That’s a huge difference!
This guy’s been an absolute force in his first season with Green Bay after the offseason trade that brought him over from the Colts for defensive tackle Colby Wooden. He’s already third on the team with 41 tackles through just six games, adding two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup. Losing that kind of production for an extended period would be brutal.
Sean Rhyan Also Hurting, and Panthers Week Is Already Here
It’s not just Franklin either. Center Sean Rhyan left that Lions game with an ankle injury, and it’s believed to be a high-ankle sprain. His X-rays came back negative, which is a small win, but he’s got an MRI scheduled for Monday to get the full picture. Two key guys hobbled.
With a short week before Thursday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, it’s pretty much a given Franklin won’t be suiting up. That timeline is just too tight for a leg fracture, even a hairline one. The good news is the “minimal games” expectation means we won’t be waiting until December to see him fly around the field again.
The Packers have got to regroup fast for that Thursday night battle against the Panthers, likely without Franklin and possibly Rhyan. It’s a short week, but getting the W at home is gonna be crucial, especially coming off a tough division loss. Here’s hoping Franklin’s “minimal games” prediction holds true and we see him back making plays way sooner than a hairline fracture usually suggests!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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