GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) 鈥� Zaire Franklin鈥檚 involvement in the first scuffle of Green Bay鈥檚 training camp this week came as no surprise to his new Packers teammates.
Franklin earned a reputation for his ability to irritate opponents while making the transition from seventh-round draft pick to Pro Bowl linebacker in eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Now he鈥檚 bringing that personality over to the Packers, who in a March trade that sent defensive lineman Colby Wooden to Indianapolis.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 on the field, I鈥檓 a completely different person,鈥� Franklin said Tuesday, two days after getting into a brief skirmish with running back Chris Brooks. 鈥淢y mentality in between the white lines is ultra-competitor 鈥� like, ultimate alpha. Like I want to challenge the best, the biggest. I don鈥檛 want no little guy. I want to go against the baddest (guy) out there. That鈥檚 how I feel. I feel like I鈥檓 the best. I鈥檓 the baddest (guy) on the planet when I鈥檓 on the field.鈥�
The Packers are counting on the 30-year-old Franklin to provide that attitude to their defense as he steps in for Quay Walker, who led Green Bay in tackles each of the past four seasons before the
鈥淲hen we realized that Quay probably wasn鈥檛 going to be back in in Green Bay, I wanted to make sure that we had someone who could step in and had already done it and played at a high level,鈥� general manager Brian Gutekunst said. 鈥淐ertainly, Zaire has done that. And I also think you know playing that middle linebacker spot, there鈥檚 a bit of a personality and edge you have to have, and I think that can bleed into your team. He has that, and I鈥檓 excited to see if he can kind of bring some of that to our football team.鈥�
That energy level has been apparent thus far in workouts.
Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon says he wants players with 鈥渉igh football character鈥� and believes that includes guys who enjoy practicing. Gannon says he sees that in Franklin.
His teammates have noticed as well.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a dog,鈥� defensive tackle Javon Hargrave said. 鈥淵ou just know when he鈥檚 out there, he鈥檚 going to make some plays and make sure we鈥檙e right. He鈥檒l have the whole defense motivated to go out and dominate.鈥�
Franklin has an NFL-leading 644 tackles over the past four seasons, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2024. The Packers hope he can create more takeaways than they鈥檇 been getting from the middle linebacker spot.
Walker intercepted one pass and recovered one fumble during his Green Bay tenure, and all three of his forced fumbles came in his rookie season. Franklin has forced 10 fumbles over the past four seasons and has three career interceptions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 called a 鈥榯akeaway,'” Franklin said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to take something from somebody, you know what I鈥檓 saying? So that鈥檚 just the energy. That鈥檚 just the mentality. And I think we鈥檝e got the guys to do that.鈥�
Franklin has extra motivation this year as he adapts to a new team for the first time in his career.
鈥淭hese guys have heard who I am, but it鈥檚 up to me to prove who I am every day to them, to this fan base and city and this organization,鈥� Franklin said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I take pride in. That鈥檚 something I take personally.鈥�
NOTES: The Packers claimed defensive end Arden Walker off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. … RB Josh Jacobs returned to practice Tuesday after missing nearly two weeks with a groin issue. … Hargrave (knee), Guard Aaron Banks (knee) and CB Domani Jackson (core) participated in 11-on-11 drills for the first time since the start of training camp.
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