"Why are we doing this if it doesn't hurt?"

When Matt LaFleur spoke with the media after yesterday's 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos, he did so with a somber yet resilient tone. But to answer LaFleur's question, it does hurt. It hurt yesterday, it hurts today, and it'll hurt for the foreseeable future. And unfortunately, the hurt that happened in Denver goes far beyond the box score. The Green Bay Packers not only lost a game that they were once leading by nine points, but they also lost several key players to different injuries, including star pass rusher Micah Parsons. Parsons is expected to miss the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee. The Packers also lost Zach Tom, Evan Williams, and Christian Watson throughout the game.

After the game, the Packers received some good news regarding some injuries. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, "Zach Tom said there didn’t appear to be any structural damage in his injured right knee. Evan Williams said he’d have tests on his knee. He said it didn’t feel as bad as when he missed four games in college." He also reported that Christian Watson was flying home with the team despite leaving the stadium in an ambulance. Watson's dad went so far as to say that Watson was fine.

You haters aren’t going to get what you want tonight… #9 is fine!

— Tazim Wajid Wajed (@NFLHitman33) December 15, 2025

While the Packers did receive some encouraging news for Tom, Williams, and Watson, the loss of Parsons will loom large. The Packers mortgaged the future by trading for Parsons, and now the Packers' defense will be without their best player from here on out. "It's obviously tough. We all know what type of player he is and the impact he's had on our football team. And to lose somebody like that, it's tough," LaFleur said. "Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We've got to find a way, and guys have got to rally around one another." It's tough, and it hurts, but the season isn't over. 

Banged-Up, But Not Broken

Zach Tom was the first major domino to fall on Sunday. When he left the game with a knee injury, the offense immediately changed. Darian Kinnard replaced Tom at right tackle and didn't perform poorly, but he's not Zach Tom. The offense had been cruising up until that point. Jordan Love wasn't sacked at all in the first half, and they were moving the ball up and down the field. Once Tom went down, the offense struggled in all facets. The offense couldn't move the ball, in part due to the constant pressure. Love finished the day being pressured on 27 of his 46 dropbacks, which is a season high.

Fortunately for the Packers, it doesn't appear that Tom's injury will end his season. "Long term, I think we're going to be alright, but whether that's a week or two or three, I couldn't tell you," LaFleur said after the game. Whether Tom can play on Saturday in Chicago remains to be seen, but it'll be tough on a short week. The Packers will need Tom back as soon as possible, or it could be a rocky ride.

The offense also felt the loss of Christian Watson in a major way. After coming back from a torn ACL, he had been playing the best football of his career. The good news is that everything medically came back clean for Watson. There aren't any issues with his lungs, and he could play as soon as Saturday, according to Rob Demovsky. Anytime a player leaves in an ambulance, there's concern, but it sounded as if that was strictly precautionary.

Update on Christian Watson: No issue with his lungs, per source. He went to the hospital yesterday in Denver for a CT scan as a precaution. He does not have any long-term injury. His status for Saturday’s game against the Bears will be determined later in the week.

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 15, 2025

The Packers' offense desperately needs him in the lineup. The offense was unable to generate anything down the field after Watson left the game. His presence in the lineup forces opposing defenses to adjust their entire gameplan. The Packers don't have another wide receiver who can replicate what Watson does. Luckily, Matthew Golden, who led the team in receiving on Sunday, appears to be getting healthier, and Jayden Reed is back in the lineup. It's going to take everyone in that wide receiver room to pick up the slack if Watson is unable to go.

It was bad enough for Green Bay's defense to lose Micah Parsons, but losing Evan Williams right after was pouring salt on the wound. Fortunately for the Packers, it doesn't sound like Williams will be out for the rest of the season. Evan Williams reportedly said last night that "the knee injury he suffered yesterday doesn't appear to be long-term," according to Matt Schneidman. He also shared that Williams walked out of the locker room on his own and stated that this injury doesn't feel as bad as the Grade 3 tear he suffered in college.

Williams had been playing at an elite level this season, so losing him for any period of time will be felt. He and Xavier McKinney had become one of the best safety duos in the NFL. With Williams potentially missing a game or two, it wouldn't be surprising to see Javon Bullard slide back into Williams' role. The other option would be inserting someone like Zayne Anderson or Kitan Oladapo, who both saw time at the position last season. Either way, Williams' absence will impact some of what Hafley can do with the defense.

An emotional Rashan Gary on the loss of Micah Parsons, and what he told Parsons after the game.

“I told him to keep his head up, and we’re going to finish strong for him.” pic.twitter.com/xjGwvBOY6e

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 15, 2025

Parsons Can't Be Replaced

There's no way replace Micah Parsons. His ability to rush the passer from multiple spots and win quickly won't be replicated. According to PFF, Parsons has the third-most pressures (74) and sacks (12.5). He was winning on 23.1% of his pass rushes. Expecting someone to come in and fill that void is unrealistic. It's a void that will be felt immensely, but that doesn't mean the Packers can't find other ways to be effective defensively. 

Jeff Hafley didn't have a Micah Parsons at his disposal in his first year calling the defense. He had a lot of familiar faces, like Xavier McKinney, Edgerrin Cooper, and Rashan Gary. But he also had Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, T.J. Slaton, Eric Stokes, and Eric Wilson instead. Those players aren't the same caliber as Micah Parsons, yet Green Bay was still able to be a top-five defense in EPA per play and a top-seven defense against the run. 

Green Bay's defense still has many of the same faces as it did in 2024, so there's reason to believe it can still be a competent defense. "It's going to be tough, but it's not going to be one individual. It's the collective, it's everybody, playing to the best of their ability," Matt LaFleur candidly said. "They're going to have to feed off one another, and rally around each other, and it's going to be opportunities for other guys to get in there. They're going to have to be impactful."

I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated. This injury is my greatest test—a moment God allowed to strengthen my testimony. I believe He walks with me through this storm and chose me for this fight because He knew my heart could carry it. I’m deeply grateful to the Packers… pic.twitter.com/KZy6TZKJfs

— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) December 15, 2025

Finding Solutions

Overcoming the loss of Parsons will take improvement at all three levels. The other pass rushers, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, and Barryn Sorrell, are going to have to play better. There's a chance they'll get either Brenton Cox or Collin Oliver back as well. The interior of the defensive line will also need to perform better. Edgerrin Cooper and Quay Walker also have the potential and capability of becoming more impactful. This also requires improvement from the secondary. If the pass rush isn't as effective, the secondary will need to be stickier in coverage for longer periods of time. Simple? Of course not. Impossible? Never.

One way the defense can adjust is by generating more turnovers. In 2024, the Packers had 31 takeaways (17 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries) and a +12 turnover differential. This season, the Packers only have 13 takeaways (7 interceptions, 6 fumble recoveries) and a +3 turnover differential. If the defense can find ways to turn the ball over more frequently, they will be able to cover up many of their deficiencies.

The pass rush isn't going to be the same without Parsons. Jeff Hafley will have to find other ways to generate pressure, whether that's by blitzing or with simulated pressures. He also won't have the same type of chess piece that he could line up anywhere. The Packers had a blitz rate of 19.6% before Sunday's game, which is one of the lowest rates in the NFL. That number will undoubtedly increase over the next few weeks.

The Packers can also help the defense by playing better in the other phases of the game, offense and special teams. The offense may need to sustain longer drives and control the time of possession to limit the time the defense is on the field. It'll also be important for the offense to get early leads to force opposing offenses into pass-happy situations. Special teams could do their part by forcing opposing offenses to start with a more disadvantageous field position. It's going to take everyone, up and down the roster, to overcome the loss of Parsons, but it can be done.

 

 

 

 

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Looking Ahead, Not Backwards

There was a time on Sunday when everything for the Packers was looking excellent. The Packers had a 23-14 lead, possession of the football, and a chance to increase their lead to 31-14. At the same time, the Rams and the Lions were in a heated battle. A Packers win and a Lions loss would've given the Packers sole possession of the #1 seed in the NFC playoff picture and a clear path to a division title. The Packers would've had a bye in the first round of the playoffs, and then the rest of the playoffs would’ve had to go through Green Bay. But in less than 15 minutes, everything unraveled.

The Packers are now clinging to the #7 seed in the playoffs and have fallen behind Chicago in the NFC North. The playoffs, in general, are far from guaranteed. The outlook for the rest of the season is looking bleak, but it's not over. "It is what it is. Everybody faces adversity, everybody faces injuries, everybody has challenges," LaFleur stated. "That's out of your control. It's all about how you respond to it."

That's what the Packers will now have to do. They'll need to adjust to life without Micah Parsons. The offense without Zach Tom or Christian Watson will need to get creative with its game planning. The defense will need to find ways to overcome the loss of two key pieces. It won't be easy, but it's necessary, and there is still a lot of football left to be played.

The Packers still have control over their own destiny. A win on Saturday will put them right back at the top of the NFC North. Matt LaFleur tends to do his best work when his back is up against the wall, and now he has a chance to prove that again. Not to mention, a team with Jordan Love should never be counted out. Buckle up. It's going to be a wild ride these next three weeks. It might be bumpy, but it's not over yet.