The Green Bay Packers might have a significant problem to solve ahead of their Week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Nickel cornerback Javon Bullard did not practice Wednesday or Thursday because of knee and ankle injuries, and his status for the NFC North matchup could be pretty much up in the air.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said it’s always concerning when a player can’t practice. The good news is Bullard himself had a positive approach to his status.

“I ain’t missing no game, man,” Bullard said in the locker room after practice. “I care about this team. I care about my brothers, man, so I’m definitely going to play Sunday.”

The Packers have a great safety duo with Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams. Bullard, however, functions as the starting nickel corner, and he has been excellent this season. He has shown plenty of improvement compared to his first two seasons in the NFL.

Losing Bullard for this particular matchup would be massive for Green Bay, and that’s why his answer is so impactful. The Vikings attack the slot often and with several different pieces. Justin Jefferson regularly aligns inside, Jordan Addison sometimes moves there as well, and tight end T.J. Hockenson also works from the slot.

That stresses a part of the defense that doesn’t have great options behind Bullard. The Packers do have alternatives, but none of them come close to what Bullard offers in coverage and against the run.

Kamal Hadden is the second option

The primary option behind Bullard, and probably the one where the Packers would lean initially, is cornerback Kamal Hadden. He suffered a serious injury late last year but has improved since then. Hadden made the 53-man roster last season mostly because Green Bay lacked depth, yet he has played well when given the chance. This year, Hadden has had 11 snaps in the slot.

He had a solid training camp this year and hasn’t seen many snaps in the regular season. When the Packers called on him, though, he had some good showings against the New England Patriots. Hadden has allowed a 42.4 passer rating when targeted and nearly intercepted quarterback Drake Maye on one play, sticking in tight coverage and earning credit for the pass breakup.

Hadden is a capable coverage player. As a natural corner, his run support probably wouldn’t be as effective as Bullard’s, and that’s a real factor against a Minnesota offense that can stretch defenses horizontally.

Other options in the slot

If Green Bay wants to keep playing its big nickel package with three safeties without Bullard, Kitan Oladapo would be the alternative, even though he’s had only one snap in the slot in 2026. Oladapo is more of a hybrid strong safety and linebacker, but he has some experience in the slot. On plays where Hockenson lines up inside, Oladapo could be a better option than Hadden to cover a bigger target.

Another scenario would involve moving Evan Williams into the slot and sending Oladapo deep. Williams is second in slot snaps this year with 63. That would probably change too much of the defensive structure, though. Williams has played so well in his natural role that it wouldn’t make much sense to go that far.

The Packers could also play three boundary cornerbacks and move one of them inside. Carrington Valentine has had seven inside snaps. They could also play Benjamin St-Juste outside and move Keisean Nixon inside, but that’s less likely.

Green Bay hasn’t done much of that this year, though. The difference between the boundary and the slot has become clearer in this defense over the past few seasons. The team now treats them as two distinct positions with established roles.

That wasn’t always the case. In the past, the Packers mixed things up, and they even signed Nate Hobbs last offseason with the idea that he could play both inside and outside. Throughout last season, and especially this year, they moved away from that approach.

The most likely scenario is that Bullard plays, though. And that’s key to preserve, from a schematic and talent standpoint, what the Packers have done on defense so far.