Packers lose Zaire Franklin to a hairline fracture and Sean Rhyan to a high ankle sprain

The Green Bay Packers got two bad injury updates Monday. Linebacker Zaire Franklin has a hairline fracture in his leg, and center Sean Rhyan is believed to have a high ankle sprain, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.

Franklin got hurt in a practice collision last Thursday, an injury coach Matt LaFleur called a shin problem, and missed Sunday's 20-17 loss to Detroit. The Packers didn't put him on injured reserve and believe he can return while missing "minimal games," per Rapoport. LaFleur said Friday that Franklin wasn't expected to go on IR, which means the team expects him to miss fewer than four games.

Rhyan's news may hurt more. He left after four snaps Sunday. X-rays were negative and he was set for an MRI Monday, but high ankle sprains often cost four to six weeks. Backup center Jacob Monk then went down with a quad injury after five snaps, and second-year pro John Williams played the last 58 snaps, his first career regular-season snaps on offense, ESPN reported. LaFleur said after the game he didn't expect Rhyan or Monk to be available Thursday against the Carolina Panthers.

On defense, losing Franklin stings. He came over from Indianapolis in an offseason trade and was voted a defensive captain in his first year, which doesn't happen often. He calls the defense and ranks third on the team with 41 tackles, plus two quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Green Bay already lost Edgerrin Cooper to a torn Achilles in Week 4, so Isaiah McDuffie and Ty'Ron Hopper played both inside linebacker spots against the Lions.

The Packers just lost a game on a field goal at the gun after two missed kicks and a pile of penalties. Now they get a short week with a third-string center and without their defensive signal-caller.

What to watch: Rhyan's MRI result and Wednesday's injury report. If Green Bay signs or promotes a center before Thursday, that tells you how worried the team is.