Karl Brooks: Everything you need to know

Brooks ended the 2025 regular season with 28 tackles (eight solo), including 0.5 sacks, and one pass defensed over 16 games. Brooks ended the 2025 campaign with 3.0 sacks fewer than in 2024, but he added four tackles to his total to compensate for the diminished pass-rush production. The defensive tackle was a formidable defensive starter who also logged consistent special-teams snaps, adding to his total value to the team. The 2023 sixth-rounder now enters the final year of his rookie contract, and it remains to be seen if the Packers will extend the starting defensive tackle before the start of the 2026 season or let him become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Brooks (ankle) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bears, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports. An ankle injury prevented Brooks from playing in Green Bay's Thanksgiving Day win over Detroit, but he has been cleared to return for Sunday's NFC North tilt after logging a full practice Friday. Brooks' return is a welcome one for the Packers after Devonte Wyatt (ankle) was placed on injured reserve, and the former will likely start alongside Colby Wooden at defensive tackle for the rest of the season.

Brooks (ankle) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice. Brooks was injured in Week 12 and missed the Week 13 win over the Lions, but his limited participation provides a decent chance to return in Sunday's matchup versus the Bears. His return to the lineup will be vital against the Bears' second-ranked run offense, especially with DT Devonte Wyatt (ankle) done for the season. Brooks has recorded 17 tackles (four solo) through 11 games.