The Green Bay Packers go to Detroit on Sunday with a reworked middle of their defense. Head coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday that linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper will take on a bigger role with Zaire Franklin ruled out, and the club activated defensive tackle Jordon Riley on Saturday, ten months after he tore his Achilles.
The timing is awkward. The 4-2 Packers face a 3-2 Lions team that scores more than 30 points a game behind Jahmyr Gibbs, and the loser drops to three defeats while the Minnesota Vikings are still unbeaten at the top of the NFC North.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur speaks to the media🎙️ https://t.co/tItCQS4zWi
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) October 23, 2026
Next man up at linebacker
Franklin was hurt in Thursday’s practice when a teammate’s knee struck his shin. LaFleur called it an unfortunate deal but said he does not expect it to be a long-term problem, and the club does not plan to put him on injured reserve. It is only the second game the former All-Pro has missed in nine seasons, ending a run of 48 straight games played.
Green Bay was already without Edgerrin Cooper, who tore his Achilles at Tampa Bay. Since then, Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie have rotated alongside Franklin, and Nick Niemann is the third option. LaFleur said the staff has “a lot of confidence in” all three. Hopper, a third-round pick in 2024, has made the most of his snaps: the week after Cooper went down, he picked off Case Keenum near the Green Bay goal line as the Packers routed Chicago 31-7. Sunday would be the third start of his career.
Riley back in the rotation
Riley, a third-year tackle, had been limited in practice for two weeks, his first work on the field since the injury last December. LaFleur described him as a big, stout, physical lineman and said that kind of player is “exactly what we need,” adding that Riley’s effort during the rehab had been noticed throughout the building. The Packers activated him off the physically unable to perform list on Saturday, along with running back Josh Jacobs, who came off the exempt list. Receiver Coleman Owen was signed from the practice squad and edge rusher Arron Mosby was elevated for the game.
What Green Bay’s defense brings
Under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon, the Packers have held four of their last five opponents to 17 points or fewer. The exception was the 35-14 home loss to Atlanta, when Bijan Robinson ran over them. Green Bay leads the league with nine interceptions, and it will need takeaways against Jared Goff, who has not thrown an interception this season.
The other side of the matchup is protection. Detroit leads the league with 20 sacks, and left guard Aaron Banks is questionable after missing time since early in the season; Laken Tomlinson has filled that spot for three straight starts. Jordan Love, listed with a back issue, is available, and the passing game has been productive: Christian Watson and Matthew Golden have combined for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, and the Packers have scored 54 points in their last two games.
What comes next
The Packers play at Ford Field on Sunday, October 25, at 4:25 p.m. EDT (Game Center). They return home on a short week to host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, October 29, at 8:15 p.m. EDT. The Lions host the Vikings on Sunday, November 1.
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