Packers DE Micah Parsons reassures fans after ACL procedure 1 Dec 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) walks off the field with help from medical personnel following an injury during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Packers are without the two players they couldn’t afford to lose

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Dec 30, 2025 5:46 PM ET

The Packers are limping into the playoffs, literally and figuratively.

Green Bay has lost three consecutive games, appearing to be a shell of the team that barnstormed its way to the top of the NFC North standings, and have become besieged by injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, at the most inopportune juncture of the season.

Packers’ Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft losses cannot be overstated

Regardless of whether the Packers head to Chicago or Philadelphia to open the playoffs, Matt LaFleur’s team is a shell of itself, thanks in large part to losing All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons and burgeoning star tight end Tucker Kraft to season-ending injuries.

“There are also just too many players that won’t be coming back from injuries,” Eric Edholm writes of Green Bay. “Including Tucker Kraft" data-link="/players/tucker-kraft/" data-slug="tucker-kraft">Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons" data-link="/players/micah-parsons/" data-slug="micah-parsons">Micah Parsons. With those two and a few others on the field, they were dangerous. Now, they look like a team that could be fortunate to win a playoff game, even if it’s a rematch against a Bears team they beat once and nearly beat a second time in 2025.”

3 Depressing Realizations From Green Bay Packers Crushing Loss Against Carolina 3 Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) is assisted off the field after getting injured against the Carolina Panthers during their football game Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Carolina won 16-13.

Parsons was as advertised, living up to his reputation as one of the league’s most disruptive pass rushers, posting 12.5 sacks. Still, four weeks after tearing his ACL, Parsons ranks fifth in the league with 79 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Meanwhile, Kraft might be the most important player on the Packers’ offense not named Jordan Love, and the tight end was easily Love’s favorite and most prolific target in the passing game.

Kraft pulled down 32 receptions for 489 yards and six touchdowns in eight games, before tearing his ACL.

Losing Parsons and Kraft dealt the Packers’ Super Bowl aspirations a crushing blow, but if Green Bay can overcome them and make a deep playoff run, it will be hard not to view this season as a success for LaFleur’s team.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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