Packers Get More Bad News on Injuries Ahead of Cowboys Game

The Green Bay Packers’ bad injury luck seems to have grown even worse ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.

According to the team’s injury report, the Packers downgraded second-round rookie right tackle Anthony Belton to a non-participant for Thursday’s second practice ahead of the Cowboys game. He was limited at Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury.

Belton’s injury comes at an inopportune time for the Packers.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers are unlikely to have starting right tackle Zach Tom available against the Cowboys because of the oblique injury that has hampered him since Week 2. Belton — who played in his place for much of Week 3 — would be the next in line to start at right tackle, but his injury could prevent that.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker and left guard Aaron Banks are also on the injury report with their own problems. Banks has sat out the first two practices with the groin injury that forced him to exit early from Week 3’s loss to the Cleveland Browns, while Walker has been limited with a quadriceps injury.

The Packers will practice once more on Friday before releasing their final injury report, at which point they will make the necessary injury designations for Sunday’s game.

Packers Might Need to Start Darian Kinnard at RT

Belton could still play against the Cowboys on Sunday night. While it is concerning that they downgraded him for Thursday’s practice, they might simply want to limit his reps throughout the week to give him the best chance of playing for them in prime time.

If the worst comes to pass and the Packers are without both Tom and Belton against the Cowboys, though, the team may have no choice but to start backup Darian Kinnard.

The Packers traded a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Kinnard during the 53-man roster cutdown in August, looking to secure more tackle depth for their roster after a string of injuries left them shorthanded. But while they acquired him for exactly this type of situation, he hasn’t had much time to prove himself just yet.

Kinnard has played just 36 total snaps in his first three games, allowing one pressure on just 14 pass-blocking snaps. He also previously played three games for the Eagles before the trade, starting one full game at right tackle in the 2024 regular-season finale.

Alternatively, the Packers could start former first-round pick Jordan Morgan at right tackle instead if neither Tom nor Belton is available, but they might need him to play left guard in place of Banks — if the injured veteran is also unable to suit up.

Micah Parsons, Devonte Wyatt Both on Injury Report

The only significant change the Packers made to their injury report was downgrading Belton between Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, but they have more injuries to monitor than the ones currently hobbling a good portion of their offensive line.

The Packers also limited defensive lineman Karl Brooks (foot), safety Javon Bullard (concussion), tight end John FitzPatrick (groin), running back Josh Jacobs (ankle), tight end Tucker Kraft (knee/elbow), defensive end Micah Parsons (back) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee). In Bullard’s case, he upgraded from a non-participant.

Neither Parsons nor Wyatt was on the injury report last week, but the Packers have been managing Parsons’ back since they acquired him in a trade earlier this month. In all likelihood, he will play against his former team for the Packers in prime time.

The Packers (2-1) will kick off against the Cowboys (1-2) at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Joe Flacco Faces Quiet Alarm Before Lions Game as Aidan Hutchinson Makes Bold Statement

The Detroit Lions are coming into Week 4 with new desperation on defense, and edge defender Aidan Hutchinson is the focal point of that urgency. After a tumultuous end to his 2024 season due to a broken leg, Hutchinson has already made his presence felt this season with 2 sacks in 3 games, reminding opponents why he was regarded as being among the league’s most intimidating defenders. He’d want to continue that great form heading into this Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions, where he’ll face Joe Flacco’s offense, and during the Lions’ recent media day, he made some observations about the Browns that could be concerning for Flacco.

The extent of Hutchinson’s influence goes well past mere statistics. Speaking to the media on September 24, he provided his insight into the quarterback situation of the Cleveland Browns. When asked about

Joe Flacco, Hutchinson said, ”I think definitely not as mobile as Lamar, but he knows that, and so he’s he’s going to get the ball out quick. When he gets pressure, he’s going to find ways to get that ball out, because he knows his game .’’

Flacco’s performance thus far this season warrants Hutchinson’s judgment. In three games, the veteran QB has experienced it all – success and failure. Week 1 against Cincinnati, Flacco passed for 290 yards with one TD and two picks, showing flashes of greatness but also flashes of errant play.

Week 2 suffered a tough loss to the Ravens by 41-17, with Flacco passing 25 for 45 for 199 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and two sacks. Flacco and the Browns last week barely managed a win against Green Bay by 13-10, passing 21 for 36 for 142 yards, but also with one interception and two sacks.

The Lions’ superstar also highlighted his own mindset going into the game. “It’s going to be fun. We have a good opportunity against him, and we got to show out and give him our best,”

Hutchinson asserted confidently.

What he’s stating is more than bravado — it is substantiated by performance. Hutchinson had his first sack of the 2025 season in Week 2 against Chicago, sacking quarterback Caleb Williams, and he also assisted on a crucial forced turnover which resulted in an interception by safety Kerby Joseph.

However, Hutchinson didn’t have it easy. In 2024, he dislocated his leg in Week 6, forcing him out just after five games. His absence placed the Lions in a shaky spot, leaving gaps that the opponent exploited and ultimately forcing the Lions to make adjustments without their emerging star rusher.

Healthy and playing at full capacity now, Hutchinson is both a stabilizing presence and a refreshed threat for offenses opposing Detroit. And it’s this defense that the Browns will be wary about heading into their next matchup.

Aidan Hutchinson’s Lions defense vs Browns

The Cleveland Browns (1-2) will visit Ford Field on Sunday to face the Detroit Lions (2-1) in a crucial Week 4 matchup. The Browns entered as the NFL’s best at stopping the run, holding opponents to an average of only 57.3 rushing yards per game, but Cleveland cannot underestimate the multi-dimensional Detroit offense.

Along with the offense, the Browns will have to be really careful about Detroit’s defense as well, as pointed out by Browns’ HC Kevin Stefanski: “They’ve got good blockers upfront and on the perimeter with their receivers. Their receivers are always freeing up guys with extra blocks down the field, which is really impressive.”

Stefanski also commented on the extra dimension that Detroit brings with running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The pair makes the Lions able to employ nearly any running scheme out there, from inside zone to outside stretch, making the team very hard to prepare for each week.

Hutchinson’s skills as a pass rusher will be tested as well, since the Browns’ offensive line is one of the more veteran groups in the NFL. But Detroit’s front seven, led by Hutchinson, will look to continually harass Flacco.

The Lions would like to use their defensive foundation’s skillset to attack the Browns’ strengths and build up some momentum, and Cleveland would like to counter with accuracy in the pass and run game. The battle will be one of tactics, Hutchinson’s statement having sent the signal out there for a contest where each snap might determine the winner.

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