Unsung contributors keep Packers above .500 amid early-season injuries
GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers have weathered a wave of season-ending injuries and relied on lesser-known contributors to remain above .500, Packers.com senior writer Wes Hodkiewicz reported. The team is 3-2 and is riding back-to-back victories into Sunday night
gainst the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Hodkiewicz detailed how a committee of backups, recent additions and rookies have filled gaps left by injured veterans.
Green Bay has lost four players for the season: receiver Jayden Reed (neck), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (Achilles), tackle Zach Bako-Bewele (knee) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (Achilles). The Packers also have placed other players on injured reserve as attrition tested the club’s depth. Those losses prompted the team to reinforce the 53-man roster via trades, free-agent signings and practice-squad promotions.
One of the most visible success stories is guard-tackle Travis Glover, the 2024 sixth-round pick who has started twice at right guard in place of Jacob Monk while Kevin Zeitler gets up to speed on the playbook. Glover made his first NFL start against Tampa Bay and it was his first regular-season action since he tore a latissimus dorsi muscle in 2025. He played only 13 offensive snaps in the 2024 regular season and added a 28-snap relief appearance in the wild-card loss at Philadelphia. Glover said returning to action after the long recovery felt different and that he had not felt that in a very long time.
Linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper has emerged as another key reserve after being used primarily on special teams as a rookie and in Year 2. Hopper, a 2024 third-round pick, was platooned with Isaiah McDuffie next to Zaire Franklin after Cooper suffered an Achilles injury, and he recorded two tackles and a fourth-quarter interception of Case Keenum in the win over Chicago. Head coach Matt LaFleur said he has seen Hopper grow from Year 1 into Year 3 and that the development was visible during OTAs and training camp.
The Packers added tight end Mark Redman in a late training-camp trade with the Los Angeles Rams for a future seventh-round pick, and his role has expanded steadily since joining the roster. The 6-foot-5, 258-pound Redman had two catches for 29 yards against the Buccaneers and has been used as an in-line blocker in 13-personnel packages with Tucker Kraft and Jonnu Smith. Redman said the opportunity to play and showcase his talents after time on another team’s practice squad has been rewarding.
Undrafted rookie receiver J. Michael Sturdivant has contributed on both special teams and offense as injuries reduced Green Bay’s wide receiver depth. Sturdivant has served as a tenacious gunner opposite Bo Melton on punt coverage and has taken on a larger receiving role after injuries to Reed, Savion Williams (ankle) and Skyy Moore (ankle). He caught three passes for 22 yards against Atlanta and nearly scored on a 43-yard play at Chicago that was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty, and quarterback Jordan Love said Sturdivant “has done a great job so far” and will make more plays.
Rookie edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton delivered a breakout performance against the Bears, tallying three tackles, two sacks, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery in 32 defensive snaps. Hodkiewicz noted that no other Packers rookie since 1999 had produced a game that included a sack, multiple tackles for loss and a fumble recovery, underscoring the significance of Dennis-Sutton’s impact in limited snaps. Teammate Lukas Van Ness said he is proud of how Dennis-Sutton has taken on the role and produced in a rotational capacity.
Hodkiewicz’s reporting paints a picture of a team relying on depth and development to offset the loss of established players. The contributions from Glover, Hopper, Redman, Sturdivant and Dennis-Sutton have helped Green Bay navigate early adversity and remain competitive as the schedule intensifies. The Packers will test that depth Sunday night when they host Dallas at Lambeau Field.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Depth has become the defining factor for the Packers early in 2026, with backups across the offensive line, linebacker corps, tight end room and pass rush delivering meaningful snaps and production. Travis Glover has provided stability along the line after a significant injury history, while Dani Dennis-Sutton has added short-area pass-rush production in a rotational role. If Green Bay can sustain that level of contribution from its younger and lesser-known players, the club can remain competitive while it navigates injuries to more established veterans.