Zach Tom’s Injury Status Looms Large as Packers Prepare for Wild Card Clash With Bears

The Green Bay Packers head into Saturday night’s Wild Card Round matchup against the Chicago Bears facing one of their most consequential injury questions of the season — the availability of offensive tackle Zach Tom.

While Tom has yet to receive Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition, his importance to Green Bay’s offensive line cannot be overstated. In fact, despite the unit’s overall regression in 2025, Tom remains its most reliable and valuable piece.

According to Pro Football Focus, Tom finished the regular season as the No. 2–graded right tackle in the NFL, a remarkable feat considering he battled both knee and back injuries throughout the year. Now, his status is uncertain just days before a critical playoff game at Soldier Field.

Practice Participation Raises Questions

Tom was listed as a limited participant in practices on Tuesday and Wednesday before being held out entirely on Thursday. The team labeled Thursday as a “rest day,” but the timing has raised concern given the stakes.

“LaFleur said they’re giving Zach Tom a rest day today,” reported Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

While rest days are not uncommon late in the season, Tom’s recent injury history makes his situation worth monitoring closely. He missed the final three games of the regular season, last appearing in Green Bay’s December 14 matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Whether Tom can return for the playoffs may go a long way toward determining how effective the Packers’ offense can be on the road.

Offensive Line Regression Defined the 2025 Season

On the surface, Green Bay’s season mirrors last year.

The Packers finished second in the NFC North for the second straight year and entered the postseason as the No. 7 seed both times. But how they arrived there could not be more different — and the offensive line is a major reason why.

In the 2024 season, Green Bay’s offensive line ranked sixth in the NFL, entering the playoffs as one of the league’s most cohesive and reliable units. That group helped propel the Packers into a tough road matchup against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom was the anchor of that unit.

In 2024, he started all 17 games and earned an 87.6 PFF overall grade, the best among all right tackles in the league.

This season told a different story.

Injuries and Pressure Took Their Toll

Although Tom still graded well — finishing 2025 with an 83.5 PFF grade — he missed five games due to injury. His absence, combined with instability elsewhere, exposed the Packers’ offensive line.

According to PFF, Green Bay’s offensive line dropped 13 spots year-over-year, finishing 19th overall in 2025.

“The Packers’ offensive line struggled in pass protection this season,” wrote Zoltán Buday of PFF.
“The unit allowed 173 pressures, including 15 sacks, on 561 pass plays.”

That translated to a 26th-ranked pass-blocking efficiency rating, a massive step backward from the prior season.

One of the most glaring issues came at left guard, where free-agent acquisition Aaron Banks struggled to justify the four-year, $77 million contract Green Bay gave him after his time with the San Francisco 49ers.

Without Tom, the line simply hasn’t functioned at the same level.

Bears’ Pass Rush Offers a Potential Lifeline

If there’s one silver lining for the Packers, it’s the opponent.

The Chicago Bears’ pass rush was among the least effective in the NFL during the regular season. Chicago recorded just 35 total sacks, tying for 26th in the league.

That total places the Bears alongside non-playoff teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, while the lone playoff team near them — the New England Patriots — compensates with elite secondary play.

Chicago does not.

That weakness could help mask some of Green Bay’s protection issues — especially if Tom is unable to play or is limited.

However, Soldier Field has long been an unforgiving environment, and even modest pressure can snowball quickly in playoff conditions.

Injury Report Bears Watching

Tom isn’t the only Packer dealing with injury concerns ahead of kickoff.

Also listed as questionable for Saturday night are:

• Warren Brinson, DL (foot)

• Javon Bullard, S (knee)

• Nick Niemann, LB (pectoral)

• Dontayvion Wicks, WR (concussion)

• Malik Willis, QB (right shoulder/hamstring)

While not all of these absences would be devastating individually, collectively they underline how thin the Packers’ margin for error may be.

Why Zach Tom’s Status Could Decide the Game

Playoff football often comes down to fundamentals — protection, discipline, and execution under pressure.

Zach Tom represents all three.

He is Green Bay’s most consistent lineman, its best matchup against top edge rushers, and the stabilizing force that allows the rest of the line to function properly. His presence would significantly improve Jordan Love’s comfort level and reduce the likelihood of negative plays.

Without him, the Packers will be forced to rely on combinations and backups that struggled to hold up late in the season.

Against a Bears team eager to spoil Green Bay’s postseason run, that’s a dangerous gamble.

Whether Tom is cleared to play — and how effective he can be if he does — may ultimately determine whether the Packers’ season continues beyond Saturday night or comes to a sudden halt at Soldier Field.

All eyes will be on Friday’s final injury report.