Packers have a major issue to solve before the playoffs, and improved health may be the only realistic hope left
Right tackle Zach Tom should be back after missing the final three games of the regular season.
Dominating upfront has always been part of the Green Bay Packers identity on offense. It’s not a coincidence how much general manager Brian Gutekunst has spent on the offensive line — which included two picks in the first two rounds over the past two years (Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton) and the biggest signing of the team in free agency (Aaron Banks) this year.
However, results have been mediocre at best in 2025. Based on PFF grades, the Packers have the second-worst offensive line aggregating pass protection and run block amongst the 14 playoff teams.
You may think PFF grades are questionable, but the overall direction of the assessment is correct for the most part. Health and the lack of continuity have been big parts of why the line isn’t as successful as it had been in years past.
Left tackle Rasheed Walker played the most snaps on offense — only being replaced in the meaningless Week 18 game against the Minnesota Vikings. Other than that, though, the Packers suffered with injuries and volatility throughout the line — which included five games lost by right tackle Zach Tom, the most talented and expensive piece of the group.
Snaps by position in 2025
Left tackle
- Rasheed Walker 986
- Jordan Morgan 51
- Darian Kinnard 6
- Anthony Belton 6
- Zach Tom 1
Left guard
- Aaron Banks 741
- Jordan Morgan 191
- Sean Rhyan 56
- Lecitus Smith 51
- Donovan Jennings 6
- Zach Tom 3
- Anthony Belton 2
Center
- Elgton Jenkins 537
- Sean Rhyan 456
- Jacob Monk 57
Right guard
- Anthony Belton 392
- Jordan Morgan 358
- Sean Rhyan 295
- Zach Tom 2
- Aaron Banks 2
- Elgton Jenkins 1
Right tackle
- Zach Tom 598
- Darian Kinnard 213
- Jordan Morgan 148
- Anthony Belton 86
- Aaron Banks 3
- Sean Rhyan 1
Zach Tom has not played since the Denver Broncos game — Micah Parsons’ absence is obviously huge, but the offensive line is materially worse without Tom, and he’s one of the hardest parts of the offense to replace.
Thankfully for the Packers, though, it’s realistic to expect his return for the wild card game against the Chicago Bears. Tom practiced the entire week ahead of the Vikings game with back and knee issues, and didn’t play mostly because it wasn’t an impactful game for standing purposes. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that most players who weren’t active in Minnesota have a good chance of returning for the playoffs.
Health still is the major consideration for the position group and the obvious place of hope for improvement.
Big question mark
Along the interior, the Packers lost center Elgton Jenkins for the season, but that actually helped stabilize the trio. Sean Rhyan increased the run-block quality at center, and Anthony Belton ended up establishing himself as a viable right guard — even with the natural ups and downs of a rookie lineman.
The uncertainty for the playoffs is at left tackle. Although Rasheed Walker started all season there, Jordan Morgan showed some promising signs in the regular season finale — and he had already played well at left tackle in the preseason.
Walker is a veteran presence who offers stability, but his floor is quite limited — and Morgan is set to become the starter in 2026 anyway. More likely, Walker will still start as he is the 13th best tackle via ESPN’s pass block win rate, but playing the former first-round pick instead wouldn’t be a surprise.
Protecting quarterback Jordan Love, who’s one of the best passers in the NFL when kept clean in the pocket, and creating better circumstances for the running backs are essential components of how the Packers can be successful in the playoffs. But based on what happened in the regular season, it won’t be an easy accomplishment.
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