Overlooked return from injury could be the Packers’ most underrated upgrade for 2026
Right tackle Zach Tom is getting back after missing the final few games of last season due to a knee issue.
The Green Bay Packers suffered several significant injuries during the 2025 season, with names like Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons drawing most of the attention. But one of the most impactful losses has been largely forgotten: right tackle Zach Tom.
The Packers offensive lineman partially tore his patellar tendon against the Denver Broncos late last season and missed the remainder of the year, including Green Bay’s playoff game against the Chicago Bears. His absence exposed real problems along the offensive line, and his return could be transformative for the Packers’ offense in 2026.
What Tom means to the Packers
Tom has established himself as the best offensive lineman on the Packers’ roster over the past few seasons. His advanced metrics back that up across the board. Among NFL right tackles, Tom has ranked in elite percentiles in categories like QB hits allowed per snap, sacks allowed per snap, and pass block efficiency. His true pass stats reflect the same dominance in pressures per snap, hurries, and hits per snap.
What makes Tom’s profile even more impressive is his growth as a run blocker. Early in his career, that wasn’t necessarily a strength. By last season, though, he had become one of the best in both zone block grade and gap block grade. The jump in production between 2024 and 2025 was significant. Head coach Matt LaFleur made it clear how he views Tom’s role on this team.
“He’s our most consistent offensive lineman,” LaFleur said last season. “He’s one of the best in the league at his position.”
The offensive line shuffle
The expectation is that Tom will be ready for Week 1, even though he might miss some training camp time. Green Bay lost left tackle Rasheed Walker in free agency to the Carolina Panthers, but the front office has a plan. Jordan Morgan, who filled in at right tackle down the stretch in Tom’s absence, will now move to the left side. That puts a healthy Tom back on the right side.
That combination has the potential to be a major upgrade for the Packers. The offensive line struggled last season, and having Tom anchor the right side again changes the dynamic for the entire unit.
Contract value
Tom recently signed a four-year, $88 million extension with the Packers, averaging $22 million per year. But the way Green Bay typically structures contracts works in the team’s favor here. The Packers front-load signing bonuses and keep Year 2 cash low to manage the salary cap. In 2026, Tom will make only $6.05 million in cash while counting $11.88 million against the cap.
For a player of his caliber, that’s exceptional value. Tom is under contract through 2029, giving the Packers long-term stability at one of the most important positions on the field.
The Packers’ 2025 injury list generated plenty of discussion around Kraft and Parsons, and rightfully so. But Tom’s absence was just as damaging to this team’s performance. Getting him back healthy has the potential to reshape what Green Bay’s offense looks like and what this team can accomplish in 2026.