NFL coaches are loathe to use injuries as an excuse, and instead preach a "next man up" mentality in the face of adversity. Matt LaFleur is no different.
But the truth is that every team has players they simply cannot afford to lose if they hope to accomplish their goals, and last season the Green Bay Packers lost too many.
With that in mind, here are the players that are truly irreplaceable for Green Bay in 2026, and the ones they cannot afford to lose to injury for a lengthy period of time:
QB Jordan Love
This seems obvious, but Love staying healthy becomes even more vital this season now that Malik Willis is no longer with the team. Willis was excellent in spot duty over the last two years and the Packers arguably do not make the playoffs in either 2024 or 2025
without him.
He has been replaced by veteran Tyrod Taylor, who has seen everything there is to see over 15 years in the NFL, but is not as dynamic as Willis at this late stage of his career.
Love has not played all 17 regular season games since 2023, and this time around the Packers will not feel quite as confident if he misses time. It is crucial that Love is out there every week for Green Bay in 2026.
EDGE Micah Parsons
The Packers will be without Parsons for at least the first four games as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered back in December, although optimism that he could return as early as Week 5 or 6 seems to be building.
His impact on Green Bay’s defense was clear to see both when he was on the field and when he was not, as Jeff Hafley’s unit struggled once Parsons went down and was hanging on for dear life by the end of the season. Regardless of when Parsons is ready to go, the most important thing is that he is fit and firing down the stretch and into the playoffs, as he is what makes Green Bay’s defense tick.
TE Tucker Kraft
Another player whom the Packers lost to an ACL tear last season, Kraft looks to be raring to go for the start of the 2026 campaign, and his return will be welcome as his impact on Green Bay’s offense cannot be overstated.
He was on course for an All-Pro type of season and may have broken records for a Packers tight end if not for the injury. His ability to turn short receptions into explosive gains, as well as come up with clutch catches in big moments was sorely missed in the second half of the season.
Getting a full season from Kraft, alongside the likes of Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, who did not play a single snap all together last year, could take the offense to another level. Kraft is a truly unique, irreplaceable player for the Packers.
RT Zach Bako-Bewele
Bako-Bewele dealt with different injuries of his own last year and although he was mostly able to fight through it, he was eventually knocked out for the season when he suffered a partially torn patellar injury.
Everything seemed to be trending towards Bako-Bewele being back to 100% before the start of this season, but although he told the media last week he “will be ready” for Week 1, there was a pregnant pause before he answered, and the right tackle also admitted he is not there “quite yet."
That raised alarm bells within the fanbase, and rightfully so, because Bako-Bewele is the only sure thing on an offensive line full of question marks entering the season. It is easy enough to make a case for the O-line being better this year than last, when they fell below expectations, but if Bako-Bewele’s knee injury lingers and he ends up missing time, it could be disastrous.
LT Jordan Morgan
Similarly, Jordan Morgan has suddenly become important at work over at left tackle, as the former first-round pick is set to take over from Rasheed Walker this season.
The signs have been encouraging as Morgan performed well in preseason, but the Packers need him to not only perform, but also stay healthy, as their tackle depth is not as strong now, with either Anthony Belton or John Williams likely next in line.
LB Edgerrin Cooper
Green Bay’s linebacker room is built around getting the best out of Cooper. Zaire Franklin was brought over from Indianapolis to do the dirty work by wearing the green dot and running the show on defense, so that Cooper can play free.
Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper are not playmaking linebackers either, and while they would probably pair with Cooper effectively, putting either of them next to Franklin in the event Cooper gets hurt is much less inspiring.
S Xavier McKinney
Aside from simply being an excellent safety, the knock on effect of McKinney being out of the lineup could be significant for Green Bay’s defense.
Either Kitan Oladapo would have to fill in, which would be a steep drop off in quality, or Javon Bullard would move from the slot back to safety, giving the Packers a potential weakness at nickel as Kamal Hadden would need to step in.
McKinney allows everyone else to fit into their ideal roles on the back end, making his presence crucial in Green Bay’s secondary beyond just his own play.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: 7 players the Packers cannot afford to lose to injury in 2026
