2026 Week 5 Fantasy Football: Chris Brooks Ankle Injury Opens Packers Backfield

According to ProFootballTalk (NBC Sports), Chris Brooks has missed both days of practice this week with an ankle injury, and the Packers responded Thursday by signing Pierre Strong off their practice squad to the active 53-man roster. Green Bay faces the Bears on Sunday, and the backfield picture is now genuinely murky.

Chris Brooks

Two missed practice days with an ankle injury heading into a Thursday report is a bad sign for Week 5 availability. Brooks carries a Questionable tag, but missing the full week of practice makes him a risky start — treat him as a game-time decision and have a backup plan ready. ProFootballTalk does not specify a return timeline beyond his current status.

Kaleb Johnson

Johnson is listed alongside MarShawn Lloyd and Pierre Strong as the backfield options per the source story, which puts him in the conversation for the most significant share of work if Brooks is out. He's the name to watch on the waiver wire (the priority list of unclaimed players in your league) if Brooks is ruled out before Sunday.

MarShawn Lloyd

Lloyd is also in the mix as one of the three backfield options the Packers now have available. With no injury designation listed for him, he should be a full go — but whether he or Johnson leads the committee is a question the source story doesn't answer. Prioritize both on waiver wire pickups if Brooks sits.

Pierre Strong

Strong's elevation from the practice squad to the 53-man roster is a direct response to Brooks' absence. That's a real roster move with fantasy significance — he's now officially available to play Sunday. He's the deepest of the three options and more of a handcuff stash than a must-start, but he's worth rostering in deeper formats if you can get him.

The bottom line: if Brooks is ruled out, this is a committee backfield with no clear workhorse identified in the source reporting. Kaleb Johnson and MarShawn Lloyd are the priority adds. Strong is the speculative stash.