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The Green Bay Packers<\/strong> head into Saturday night\u2019s Wild Card Round matchup against the Chicago Bears<\/strong> facing one of their most consequential injury questions of the season \u2014 the availability of offensive tackle Zach Tom<\/strong>.<\/p>\n While Tom has yet to receive Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition, his importance to Green Bay\u2019s offensive line cannot be overstated. In fact, despite the unit\u2019s overall regression in 2025, Tom remains its most reliable and valuable piece.<\/p>\n According to Pro Football Focus<\/strong>, Tom finished the regular season as the No. 2\u2013graded right tackle in the NFL<\/strong>, a remarkable feat considering he battled both knee and back injuries<\/strong> throughout the year. Now, his status is uncertain just days before a critical playoff game at Soldier Field<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tom was listed as a limited participant<\/strong> in practices on Tuesday and Wednesday before being held out entirely on Thursday. The team labeled Thursday as a \u201crest day,\u201d but the timing has raised concern given the stakes.<\/p>\n \u201cLaFleur said they\u2019re giving Zach Tom a rest day today,\u201d reported Matt Schneidman of The Athletic<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n While rest days are not uncommon late in the season, Tom\u2019s recent injury history makes his situation worth monitoring closely. He missed the final three games of the regular season<\/strong>, last appearing in Green Bay\u2019s December 14 matchup against the Denver Broncos.<\/p>\n Whether Tom can return for the playoffs may go a long way toward determining how effective the Packers\u2019 offense can be on the road.<\/p>\n On the surface, Green Bay\u2019s season mirrors last year.<\/p>\n The Packers finished second in the NFC North<\/strong> for the second straight year and entered the postseason as the No. 7 seed<\/strong> both times. But how they arrived there could not be more different \u2014 and the offensive line is a major reason why.<\/p>\n In the 2024 season, Green Bay\u2019s offensive line ranked sixth in the NFL<\/strong>, entering the playoffs as one of the league\u2019s most cohesive and reliable units. That group helped propel the Packers into a tough road matchup against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n Tom was the anchor of that unit.<\/p>\n In 2024, he started all 17 games and earned an 87.6 PFF overall grade<\/strong>, the best among all right tackles in the league.<\/p>\n This season told a different story.<\/p>\n Although Tom still graded well \u2014 finishing 2025 with an 83.5 PFF grade<\/strong> \u2014 he missed five games<\/strong> due to injury. His absence, combined with instability elsewhere, exposed the Packers\u2019 offensive line.<\/p>\n According to PFF, Green Bay\u2019s offensive line dropped 13 spots year-over-year<\/strong>, finishing 19th overall<\/strong> in 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Packers\u2019 offensive line struggled in pass protection this season,\u201d wrote Zolt\u00e1n Buday of PFF<\/strong>.<\/em> That translated to a 26th-ranked pass-blocking efficiency rating<\/strong>, a massive step backward from the prior season.<\/p>\n One of the most glaring issues came at left guard<\/strong>, where free-agent acquisition Aaron Banks<\/strong> struggled to justify the four-year, $77 million contract<\/strong> Green Bay gave him after his time with the San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\n Without Tom, the line simply hasn\u2019t functioned at the same level.<\/p>\n If there\u2019s one silver lining for the Packers, it\u2019s the opponent.<\/p>\n The Chicago Bears\u2019 pass rush<\/strong> was among the least effective in the NFL during the regular season. Chicago recorded just 35 total sacks<\/strong>, tying for 26th in the league<\/strong>.<\/p>\n That total places the Bears alongside non-playoff teams like the Dallas Cowboys<\/strong> and Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong>, while the lone playoff team near them \u2014 the New England Patriots \u2014 compensates with elite secondary play.<\/p>\n Chicago does not.<\/p>\n That weakness could help mask some of Green Bay\u2019s protection issues \u2014 especially if Tom is unable to play or is limited.<\/p>\n However, Soldier Field has long been an unforgiving environment, and even modest pressure can snowball quickly in playoff conditions.<\/p>\n Tom isn\u2019t the only Packer dealing with injury concerns ahead of kickoff.<\/p>\n Also listed as questionable<\/strong> for Saturday night are:<\/p>\n Warren Brinson<\/strong>, DL (foot)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Javon Bullard<\/strong>, S (knee)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Nick Niemann<\/strong>, LB (pectoral)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Dontayvion Wicks<\/strong>, WR (concussion)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Malik Willis<\/strong>, QB (right shoulder\/hamstring)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n While not all of these absences would be devastating individually, collectively they underline how thin the Packers\u2019 margin for error may be.<\/p>\n Playoff football often comes down to fundamentals \u2014 protection, discipline, and execution under pressure.<\/p>\n Zach Tom represents all three.<\/p>\n He is Green Bay\u2019s 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\u2019s comfort level and reduce the likelihood of negative plays.<\/p>\n Without him, the Packers will be forced to rely on combinations and backups that struggled to hold up late in the season.<\/p>\n Against a Bears team eager to spoil Green Bay\u2019s postseason run, that\u2019s a dangerous gamble.<\/p>\n Whether Tom is cleared to play \u2014 and how effective he can be if he does \u2014 may ultimately determine whether the Packers\u2019 season continues beyond Saturday night or comes to a sudden halt at Soldier Field.<\/p>\n All eyes will be on Friday\u2019s final injury report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Zach Tom\u2019s Injury Status Looms Large as Packers Prepare for Wild Card Clash With Bears The Green Bay Packers head into Saturday night\u2019s Wild Card Round matchup… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":136985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nPractice Participation Raises Questions<\/h2>\n
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\nOffensive Line Regression Defined the 2025 Season<\/h2>\n
\nInjuries and Pressure Took Their Toll<\/h2>\n
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\u201cThe unit allowed 173 pressures, including 15 sacks, on 561 pass plays.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nBears\u2019 Pass Rush Offers a Potential Lifeline<\/h2>\n
\nInjury Report Bears Watching<\/h2>\n
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\nWhy Zach Tom\u2019s Status Could Decide the Game<\/h2>\n