Packers’ Defense Gets Stronger as Quay Walker Returns from Injury
The Green Bay Packers received good news ahead of their Week 9 matchup: veteran linebacker Quay Walker, a former first‑round pick, is officially listed as available after recovering from a calf injury.
Walker missed Thursday’s practice but returned to the field on Friday, which signals that he’s trending toward full participation.
“I felt like I let the guys down by sitting out. I’ve got to be on that field. When I’m available, I play with everything I’ve got, because this team counts on every shoulder,” Walker said after Friday’s session.
Walker’s return brings a boost to the Packers’ defense, especially in a matchup where they’ll need every key contributor. The linebacker has been one of the team’s tackling leaders this season and his presence helps anchor the middle of the defense.
Coach Matt LaFleur commented on the update:
“Quay has been working hard. His return means more than just adding a body – it adds intensity, communication and leadership. We’re glad to have him back.”
What this means for the Packers
With Walker back, the Packers gain stability against the run and flexibility in blitz packages. His ability to read plays and make adjustments is particularly valuable against the upcoming opponent, who’ll look for weaknesses in the linebacking corps.
However, the Packers will still need to manage Walker’s workload carefully to avoid re‑injury — the calf issue kept him limited earlier in the week and Friday’s full participation doesn’t guarantee he’ll play every snap.
If Walker can return at near full strength, the Packers’ defense will have one of its more complete units back — just in time for a critical stretch of games.
Dan Campbell’s brutally honest assessment of Lions should scare rest of NFL
The Detroit Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season. Even after losing both of their coordinators this offseason, Detroit seemingly hasn't lost a step. They come out of their bye week with a 5-2 record, scoring key wins against some of the top contenders in the process.
If the Lions are to be believed, they still aren't playing to their full potential. Head coach Dan Campbell believes that Detroit still has another gear this season. The Lions HC said that they could stand to be better at playing complementary football over the course of the season.
“I really believe we haven't played our best ball yet collectively in all three phases,” Campbell said, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “And that's really what we're trying to get to here is how can we sharpen ourselves. We know it's going to take every phase. Every game's different, and one unit may have to pick up the slack, but we need to start playing complete ball across the board. And just keep improving — like with all these teams that we're in the race with right now. So, that's where we're at.”
The Lions have highlighted four key areas for improvement during their bye week. That includes their third-down efficiency on both sides of the ball. Detroit is ranked 22nd in third-down conversion rate this season with just 37.7%, far below their 47% rate last season. On the other side, they're allowing a similar third-down conversion rate on defense, which is higher than their 32.5% rate last year.
The two other areas that the Lions focused on during the bye week are their red zone defense and Jameson Williams' involvement on offense. While Detroit's defense has been generally solid this season, it's allowing a whopping 63.6% of its opponents' red zone trips to end in a touchdown. On the other hand, Williams has had an up-and-down season thanks in large part to his fluctuating target rate. Detroit's offense is at its best when the threat of Jamo downfield opens up the rest of the offense. Finding ways to get him in space is going to be crucial for this team moving forward.
The Lions open the second half of their season with a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at home. Will Detroit apply what they've installed during the bye week in their next games?
