The Green Bay Packers didn't make a move at the trade deadline, but there's good news: Help is coming.
Micah Parsons' return is undoubtedly the headline, and he could be back in time for the Thanksgiving Eve game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. The Packers host the Minnesota Vikings this week, then take their bye, and then it could be go time for Parsons.
But he's not coming alone. Several important Packers starters could return from injury in the near future. Let's break it down with all the latest information.
Key Packers players who could return from injury in the coming weeks
Micah Parsons
This is the big one. Parsons is entering his second week of practice since the Packers opened his 21-day return window. Green Bay has until November 25 to either activate Parsons to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve.
He almost certainly won't play in Week 10 against the Vikings, but Thanksgiving Eve against the Rams is the date to circle. That aligns with the end of Parsons' 21-day practice window, and by then, he will have had three weeks to ramp up.
Of course, coming off a significant injury, it all depends on how Parsons feels each day. The Packers will take it cautiously. But right now, all signs point toward a Week 12 return.
And the timing couldn't be much better. Green Bay's defense has found a way to thrive this season, even without Parsons. The Packers are 6-3 with a golden opportunity to improve that record against the Vikings.
Enter Parsons, just in time for the stretch run. That's when the Packers want to heat up, and they should have their all-world pass rusher on the field.
Potential return date: Week 12, at Rams
Zaire Franklin
The Packers have been hit hard with injuries at linebacker, though Ty'Ron Hopper and Isaiah McDuffie have stepped up admirably. Core special teams player Nick Niemann had to play significant defensive snaps against the New England Patriots.
Edgerrin Cooper is out for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles, but the Packers should get Zaire Franklin back soon.
Franklin has missed three games since reportedly suffering a hairline fracture in his shin during practice. The Packers didn't place him on injured reserve, suggesting they believed he could return sooner than four weeks.
Matt LaFleur said Franklin could return to practice this week, which opens the door for a potential return against the Vikings on Sunday. The team may prefer to give him until after the bye, but in any case, Franklin should be back soon.
Potential return date: Week 10, vs. Vikings
Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs had only four carries against the Patriots after suffering a broken finger. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Jacobs needs surgery but is only expected to miss 2-3 weeks. The Packers haven't decided whether to place him on injured reserve, which would keep him out for a minimum of four games.
But if it's in the 2-3-week range, Jacobs could be back by around Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints. Anything before that seems unlikely because Jacobs hasn't had surgery yet, and the Week 12 game against the Rams is less than two weeks away.
In the meantime, the Packers will rely on Kaleb Johnson, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., and potentially Chris Brooks (more on him in a moment).
Potential return date: Week 13, at Saints
Sean Rhyan
Don't expect Sean Rhyan to suit up against the Vikings this week, but Matt LaFleur said he could return to practice.
As Ian Rapoport reported last month, Rhyan suffered a high-ankle sprain, which typically means missing 4-6 weeks. The Packers didn't place him on injured reserve, a sign they believe he'll be back on the shorter end of that range.
The Packers have their bye in Week 11, and by the time they face the Rams on Thanksgiving, Rhyan will be almost five weeks removed from the injury. That bodes well for his chances of returning in that game.
The Packers' offensive line has been trending in the right direction, but third-string center John Williams has struggled. Rhyan has the third-best PFF run-blocking grade among Packers offensive linemen, behind only Kevin Zeitler and Laken Tomlinson. His return will make a difference.
Potential return date: Week 12, at Rams
Chris Brooks
The Packers opened Chris Brooks' 21-day practice window last week. He is working his way back from an ankle injury.
While there's no official word on when Brooks is expected to return, his practice status seems to indicate he at least has a chance of playing this week against Minnesota. His situation is different to Parsons'.
Parsons had no training camp or the preseason and has missed almost a year. He needs a ramp-up period. Brooks played in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so, in theory, he should be able to return once he's medically cleared.
It will give Green Bay's rushing attack a boost. Brooks is the Packers' best blocker at the position, and he was building momentum before his injury, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
Potential return date: Week 10, vs. Vikings
Skyy Moore
Skyy Moore made an impact on special teams earlier this season, and the Packers have missed him in the return game. Bo Melton impressed in that role against the Patriots, but Moore averaged a team-best 27.5 yards per kick return and 16.0 yards per punt return before he got hurt.
Moore even broke out a 62-yard return against the New York Jets in Week 2, with the Packers trailing by three points with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Packers have opened Moore's 21-day practice window, which gives him a good shot at returning in two weeks against the Rams.
Potential return date: Week 12, at Rams
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