​The Green Bay Packers won’t have their veteran linebacker and defensive captain when they take on Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field. Coach Matt LaFleur revealed Friday that linebacker Zaire Franklin is out for Sunday after suffering a shin injury during Thursday’s practice.”Yeah, unfortunately, there was a little collision and he got kneed in the shin. He’s gonna be out this game,” LaFleur said.LaFleur did not think Franklin would need to go on injured reserve, which would require missing four games, but the team is still evaluating the severity of the injury.”I don’t think it’s going to be anything too long term, but just an unfortunate deal. It happens when you play football, especially the way our guys have been practicing,” LaFleur said.Franklin leads the team in total tackles (48) and is second in stops (15), per PFF. He’s been on the field for 414 snaps for the Packers defense through six games.Edgerrin Cooper is already out with a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, so the Packers will be down both of their Week 1 starting linebackers in Detroit on Sunday. The next men up: veteran Isaiah McDuffie, recent top-100 pick Ty’Ron Hopper and special teamer Nick Niemann.”We have a lot of confidence in McDuffie and Hopper and Nick Niemann, if need be, to go in there and do a great job for us,” LaFleur said.LaFleur said Hopper, a 2024 third-round pick, will get a “great opportunity” to be a full-time player, especially after impressing in a rotational role with McDuffie after Cooper went down with a season-ending injury in Week 4.”He’s maximized them, he’s taken advantage of them,” LaFleur said. “His progression has been pretty cool to watch.”Veteran Kristian Welch, another career special teamer, would also assist Niemann in a backup role. Rookie Jack Dingle is the only off-ball linebacker available on the practice squad.The big question for Sunday now becomes: Can the Packers contain Gibbs, one of the NFL’s most dangerous players, without Franklin and Cooper at linebacker?This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers LB Zaire Franklin OUT vs. Lions with shin injury