GREEN BAY, Wis. — Good news!
…And some bad news!
Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin, the Green Bay Packers’ starting linebacker tandem, both returned to practice on Monday. Franklin was expected—he arrived in Green Bay late on Sunday because he was in Canton, Ohio, for Adam Vinatieri’s Hall of Fame induction. Franklin was teammates with the longtime kicker when they were together for two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
Cooper’s return is a little more noteworthy. He missed Sunday’s closed practice with a foot injury that he picked up during Family Night on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Packers will have to manage without another starter on the defensive side of the ball. Javon Bullard, who dropped out of practice Sunday, has a foot injury that could keep him from potentially playing in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Matt LaFleur did indicate that, if a player is healthy, he should expect to play—Bullard might not fit that description in four days.
Bullard’s injury is detrimental enough as the team’s starting nickelback, but the Packers also waived/injured safety Johnathan Baldwin over the weekend. He had missed multiple practices with a knee injury after a strong start to training camp; he was the frontrunner for the No. 2 job in the slot behind Bullard.
Including Bullard, the Packers’ non-participant list for Monday’s practice looks very much the same as it did Sunday. Two of the Packers’ three starting wideouts, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden, are also being shelved for the second consecutive practice.
S Javon Bullard (Foot)
The third-year versatile safety was seen at practice with a walking boot on his right foot. When asked about how crucial Bullard is to the Packers’ defense on Monday, LaFleur said, “Bull is a dog, man. Talk about a guy that can play with the mentality, the play style, what we want to be about. It’s been cool to see his evolution.” He may or may not have known that Bullard was in a walking boot, or it’s a short-term issue that isn’t worth being concerned over. Either way, it’ll be something to monitor with just over a month until the start of the regular season.
WR Matthew Golden (Toe)
Golden didn’t emerge from Family Night unscathed. The second-year receiver is dealing with a toe injury, but it’s likely not presumed to be serious. The Packers may just be managing him—and potentially a handful of others—after a strenuous, humid night in front of more than 57,000 fans. The weather was humid, prompting a few players to exit the practice due to cramping.
WR Jayden Reed (Ankle)
Like Golden, it can’t be assumed that Reed’s new ankle injury is a significant issue. It’s somewhat concerning that Reed is now dealing with this latest ailment after an injury-plagued 2025; the former second-round pick missed a massive chunk of the season with a broken collarbone and a Jones fracture.
CB Domani Jackson (Undisclosed)
The competition at cornerback has been heating up, and it’s done so without the participation of sixth-round pick Domani Jackson. He’s missed all of training camp with an undisclosed injury—his absence could significantly affect his chances of making the Packers’ initial 53-man roster. LaFleur was hopeful that Jackson would be able to participate in 11-on-11 drills after Family Night, but that hasn’t been the case as of yet. Jackson will still have three preseason games to prove that he belongs in the mix at cornerback, but he has a lot of time to make up for.
TE Josh Whyle (Neck)
General manager Brian Gutekunst has said it best in the past—when it comes to dealing with head, neck, and heart issues, the Packers are going to exercise extreme caution. That’ll be no different with Whyle, who has been the favorite to win the No. 2 tight end job over Luke Musgrave. Musgrave, a former second-round pick, is also dealing with a somewhat concerning neck injury that the Packers’ medical staff is still determining the outlook on.
RB Josh Jacobs (Groin)
Jacobs is dealing with a groin injury that doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue that will persist into the season, but it is lingering for a second week in a row. Even so, the Packers are going to tread carefully, and rightfully so—soft tissue injuries are notoriously tricky. With how thin and unproven their backfield is, they can’t afford to lose their No. 1 on the depth chart. MarShawn Lloyd is next up in the pecking order, and the first two years of his career have been plagued by injury, so he isn’t a reliable option. Pierre Strong Jr., Damien Martinez, and Jaden Nixon round out the rest of the room with Jacobs and Brooks sidelined.
CB Carrington Valentine (Hamstring)
The fourth-year cornerback is rapidly losing ground in the battle for a starting job in the Packers’ secondary. Second-round rookie Brandon Cisse and free-agent signing Benjamin St-Juste have made headlines throughout training camp, while Valentine has now missed three consecutive practices with a hamstring injury. He dropped out of the Aug. 2 practice prior to participating in 11-on-11 drills and hasn’t returned.