Packers fear DT Javon Hargrave tore his Achilles vs. Bears

The Packers' dominant defensive performance in their 38-14 rout of the Bears on Sunday came with a potentially devastating cost. Green Bay fears defensive tackle Javon Hargrave tore his Achilles on an injury that occurred late in garbage time, per Ari Meirov.

Hargrave, the Packers' marquee free-agent addition at defensive tackle, had been a central force in a Green Bay front that overwhelmed Chicago's offense for most of the afternoon. The Bears managed just seven first-half points and were held to 70 total rushing yards before the game got out of hand in the fourth quarter.

Coach Matt LaFleur called the apparent injury "deflating" when asked about it after the final whistle — a rare public acknowledgment of the emotional weight a single player's absence carries for this roster. An Achilles tear would likely end Hargrave's season and could extend into the 2027 recovery calendar, depending on the severity and surgical route.

The Packers' defensive tackle rotation would face a substantial gap without Hargrave, whose pressure rate and run-stop consistency had been critical in coordinator Jeff Hafley's scheme. Green Bay faces a short week with a Thursday night game — the added lack of recovery time makes any roster replacement decision more urgent.

The team is expected to confirm the diagnosis after further testing. An official IR placement would open a roster spot ahead of the Week 6 schedule.