Vanessa: Edgerrin Cooper is out for the season. That single sentence changes everything about how this Green Bay defense operates, and it forces a roster battle we didn’t see coming. Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Vanessa.
Nick: And I’m Nick. We are four games into 2026, sitting at 2-and-2 in the NFC North, and while that win over Tampa Bay felt gritty, the injury report from Sunday has us looking at depth charts with a whole new set of eyes.
Vanessa: Exactly. Today we’re doing a deep dive on Roster Battles. First, we break down the linebacker void left by Cooper’s torn Achilles and who steps into that role against Chicago. Then, we look at the quarterback room dynamics with Tyrod Taylor backing up Jordan Love. Finally, we predict who gets cut from this 53-man roster before they face Tyson Bagent and the Bears on Sunday.
Vanessa: Let’s start where the pain is most acute: the linebacker corps. Edgerrin Cooper had nine total tackles in that win against Tampa Bay, but more importantly, he was the heart of that unit. With him gone for the year, who is actually taking those snaps?
Nick: It’s Zaire Franklin and Isaiah McDuffie right now. Franklin has been the veteran presence, but McDuffie is the one who has to expand his coverage responsibilities. Remember our prediction from Tuesday? We said Evan Williams would be the key to containing Chicago's running game. Well, now Evan Williams is playing alone in the middle more than ever.
Vanessa: Right, because when Cooper goes down, you lose that second-layer pursuit. Against the Bears, if Ben Johnson decides to run a heavy mesh concept or hit Tyler Scott in the flat, Evan Williams can’t be double-teamed by the guard and center every single play. Does Ty’Ron Hopper have enough speed to rotate in?
Nick: Hopper is an edge setter, not a inside linebacker. He’s not going to cover space like Cooper did. This is why the defensive line has to generate pressure without blitzing. If Karl Brooks and Javon Hargrave can get home with just four rushers, then Zaire Franklin doesn’t have to fill gaps as aggressively. It’s all about leverage.
Vanessa: So the battle isn’t just who plays linebacker, it’s how much pressure the front seven can apply. But let’s talk about the other side of the ball. We know Jordan Love was efficient against Tampa—22 of 30, 197 yards, two touchdowns—but the offensive line injuries are piling up too.
Nick: Love’s numbers were solid, but look at the scoring drives. Matthew Golden caught a two-yard pass, Tucker Kraft got the other. Those are quick-game checks. Why? Because the protection is suspect. With Anthony Belton questionable and Lukas Van Ness questionable for the Bears game, Love needs to be faster with his release.
Vanessa: We predicted yesterday that Love would need pre-snap reads. Do you think the coaching staff is even considering starting Tyrod Taylor if the O-line looks this bad against Chicago’s physical front seven?
Nick: Absolutely not. Tyrod Taylor is there for stability, not to replace Love mid-season. Love knows the system. Taylor might manage the game better if things fall apart, but starting him means admitting defeat on the offensive line adjustment. No, Love starts. He just has to trust the screen passes to Josh Jacobs or Kaleb Johnson.
Vanessa: Josh Jacobs has eight carries for 42 yards in the last game. That’s not a lot of volume. Is that a matchup issue against Chicago, or is it just that Love isn’t trusting the run yet?
Nick: It’s both. The Bears have a stout run defense, and when your tackle is questionable, you don’t run outside zone. You keep it inside. Kaleb Johnson saw more touches late in the game because the offense was trying to burn clock. If Jacobs stays healthy, he should see more work against Chicago because their linebackers are slower than Tampa’s.
Vanessa: Let’s shift gears to the wide receiver group. This is where the roster battles are getting really tight. Christian Watson had three receptions for 47 yards against Tampa, but Bo Melton and Skyy Moore are pushing hard for spots.
Nick: Watson is the X-receiver, the deep threat. His 47 yards came on big plays, which is what you want. But Melton is the slot specialist. Against Chicago, if they bring nickel coverage, you need someone who can find soft spots in zone. Melton does that better than Watson right now.
Vanessa: What about Skyy Moore? He’s always been a special teams ace, but can he contribute in the passing game against a team like Chicago? Or is he just fighting for a practice squad spot?
Nick: Moore is trending down. He’s reliable, but he lacks the separation skills of Watson or the versatility of Melton. If they need five receivers, it’s Watson, Melton, Jayden Reed (if he were here), Romeo Doubs (hypothetically), and maybe Matthew Golden. Moore is on the bubble.
Vanessa: Matthew Golden! He scored that first touchdown of the game against Tampa. A two-yard strike from Love. Is that enough to secure his roster spot?
Nick: It helps. But one catch doesn’t make a roster. He needs to show he can block. In the NFL, if you’re a WR5, you have to be able to stay on the field on third down. If he can’t block the edge, he’s just a sub-package player. And against Chicago, you need every body you can get.
Vanessa: Let’s talk about the tight ends. Tucker Kraft had that second touchdown, another two-yard pass. Jonnu Smith is on the roster too. Who is the primary target for Love in the red zone?
Nick: Kraft is the clear number one TE. He’s bigger, stronger, and runs precise routes in the end zone. Smith is more of a move tight end, good for check-downs. But when you’re driving into the red zone against the Bears, you want Kraft in the mix. Mark Redman and Josh Whyle are battling for the backup roles, but Kraft is locked in.
Vanessa: So, Kraft is the guy. What about the offensive line backups? We mentioned earlier that the starters are banged up. Aaron Banks and Mekhi Becton are listed as guards. Are they playing?
Nick: Becton is a project. He’s huge, but he’s inconsistent. Banks is more reliable. If the starting guards go down, you’re looking at Donovan Jennings or Sean Rhyan to step in. This is a fragile unit. One more injury and Love is scrambling for his life against Tyson Bagent.
Vanessa: Alright, let’s get to the final segment. Roster Cut Predictions. We’re heading into Sunday’s game against Chicago. Who is likely to wear green next week, and who is heading back to camp?
Nick: I’m saying Skyy Moore is the first name off the active roster. They’ll keep him on the practice squad, but he won’t dress. Also, Jager Burton at center is in danger. Jacob Monk is the incumbent, and if Burton can’t hold his own in drills, he’s gone.
Vanessa: Burton is questionable, so that adds to the uncertainty. What about the defensive backs? Javon Bullard is a starter, but who is the fifth cornerback?
Nick: Brandon Cisse or Kamal Hadden. Cisse has more experience, but Hadden is younger and faster. Against Chicago, if they’re throwing a lot, I’d lean toward keeping Cisse for his familiarity with the scheme. But if they’re blitzing, Hadden’s speed might be needed to chase down screens.
Vanessa: So, Cisse holds the edge. What about the running backs? Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd are both on the roster. With Josh Jacobs and Kaleb Johnson, is there room for a third RB?
Nick: MarShawn Lloyd is trending up. He’s a special teams contributor and can catch passes out of the backfield. Chris Brooks is more of a power back, but if Jacobs is the bell cow, you don’t need another power back. I think Lloyd makes the cut over Brooks.
Vanessa: Lloyd over Brooks. Okay. And finally, who is the surprise player who could steal a job? Someone who isn’t a household name but is performing well in camp.
Nick: Anthony Campbell at defensive tackle. He’s been disruptive in drills. If Devonte Wyatt is questionable or limited, Campbell could see significant snaps alongside Javon Hargrave. He’s the dark horse to make the roster out of nowhere.
Vanessa: So, to recap: Cooper is out, forcing Evan Williams and Zaire Franklin to carry the load; Love starts but must protect the ball against Chicago’s pressure; and we expect Skyy Moore to drop off the active roster while MarShawn Lloyd rises. Before we go, remember that if today’s breakdown helped you understand these roster battles better, please consider supporting the show. Your contributions keep this network free and daily. Just click the link in the episode description to help us out.
Nick: That’s right. We do this because we love the game, and we want to keep bringing you sharp analysis every single day. If you found value in this episode, chip in via the link below. It means the world to us.
Vanessa: Thanks for listening, Pack Fam. Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts. Go Pack Go!