Another injury at linebacker for the Green Bay Packers -- this time to defensive captain Zaire Franklin -- will provide a terrific opportunity for third-year linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper to showcase his development as a player in a matchup against Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field.
Franklin injured his shin at Thursday's practice and won't play Sunday. Ascending starting linebacker Edgerrin Cooper tore his Achilles tendon in Tampa Bay and is out for the rest of the season.
It's now Hopper's chance to show how far he's come since the Packers made him a third-round pick in the 2024 draft.
Coach Matt LaFleur said he has "a lot of confidence" in Hopper and veteran Isaiah McDuffie as the starters with Franklin
and Cooper out of action.
Since Cooper went down in Week 4, Hopper has played 39 snaps against the Chicago Bears and 33 against the Dallas Cowboys while rotating with McDuffie next to Franklin. He intercepted a pass in the win over the Bears and nearly had a pick of Dak Prescott last Sunday. This week, he'll likely be a full-time player for just the second time in his NFL career.
LaFleur has been impressed with how Hopper has developed and how he has attacked the increased opportunities in recent weeks.
"He's maximized them, he's taken advantage of them," LaFleur said. "He's done a great job. His progression has been pretty cool to watch. Just how he's developed over the years. We got a good sense early on in training camp that he's on his way. This will be a great opportunity for him to get even more reps."
Hopper previously started the regular season finale against the Minnesota Vikings last year. This time around, he'll get the full-powered Lions offense, which is returning starting center Cade Mays to the lineup, and a 60-minute battle with Gibbs, one of the best running backs in football. It's a difficult matchup for any off-ball linebacker, regardless of experience level.
Now in Year 3, Hopper has a big opportunity to prove he's ready for more, and he can position himself as a reliable starter at linebacker, especially in the short term and certainly for the 2027 season, if he can play well while Franklin recovers.
With the defense's captain out on Sunday, No. 59 will be in the spotlight for the Packers defense at Ford Field.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Another injury creates 'great opportunity' for Packers LB Ty'Ron Hopper vs. Lions
