TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 4: Edgerrin Cooper #56 of the Green Bay Packers receives medical attention against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 4, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Green Bay kept giving Tampa Bay opportunities to extend the game, but in the end the Packers (2-2) defeated the Buccaneers (0-4), 17-14.
The Packers lost more men to injuries on Sunday, most notably linebacker Edgerrin Cooper going down with an Achilles injury. Rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse also was pulled for a suspected concussion.
Due to existing injuries, questions surrounded how the unproven offensive line would hold up, but quarterback Jordan Love was able to stand in the pocket throughout the afternoon and Green Bay was able to establish a better run game compared to prior weeks.
The Packers nearly blew another halftime lead.
Green Bay had a chance to make it a 10-point game in the fourth quarter when Love led the offense down the field, but running back Kaleb Johnson fumbled at the 3-yard line.
“A great teacher is the bench. If guys don’t start holding onto the ball, they’re gonna be sitting on the bench,” head coach Matt LaFleur said after the game.
After Tampa gave the ball back to Green Bay, Love threw an ill-advised pass on 1st down and the ball was picked by Jacob Parrish.
Led by undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, Tampa Bay couldn’t manage to get into field goal range in their final possession.
Love finished the game 22-for-30 with 197 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
With Cooper likely out significant time, the Packers must move forward without him while already dealing with other injuries. Wide receiver Jayden Reed was ruled out for the season last week.
Green Bay signed multiple offensive lineman last week to make up for injuries as well.
While star edge rusher Micah Parsons remains out nursing a knee injury and star running back Josh Jacobs is sidelined by the NFL.
But despite that, Green Bay remains unsatisfied with Sunday's result.
“There were some positive things but we’re never going to be satisfied with scoring 17 points in a game,” LaFleur said. “That’s just not to our standard and we have to find ways when we’re in the red area to convert. We can’t be turning the ball over. We can’t have penalties. That is a stingy defense. You have to give them a lot of credit. … But we also have to clean up a lot of stuff. It’s gotta get fixed and it’s gotta get fixed now.”
Green Bay hosts the Chicago Bears (3-1) next Sunday at noon.
Drake Bentley is the general assignment reporter for the Milwaukee Courier, covering politics, sports and the community. He is an award-winning investigative journalist who has worked for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Newsweek, Heavy and The Sporting News. He is a northside Milwaukee native, former political staffer and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Nebraska.