Packers get expected yet frustrating update with key player as uncertainty hangs over the entire offense
Zach Tom is handling an oblique injury.
Last Sunday, right tackle Zach Tom tried to play through his oblique injury. Well, that won’t be the case against the Dallas Cowboys on ‘Sunday Night Football’. According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Tom is not expected to face the Cowboys in Week 4.
Because the Packers have a bye following the Cowboys game, Zach Tom will have two additional weeks to recover. The team will reassess his situation ahead of Week 6, versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Without him on Sunday versus the Cleveland Browns, the offensive line gave up 16 pressures.
Oblique injury
Zach Tom injured his oblique during the Week 1 win over the Detroit Lions. He missed the Washington Commanders game in Week 2 and tried to play against the Browns. However, he wasn’t ready and left the game after one offensive snap.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that Tom didn’t further hurt the muscle, which means he will keep making progress to return as soon as possible. However, LaFleur acknowledged that allowing him to play wasn’t the best decision.
“Obviously, yeah, I would say if a guy plays one play, we’ve got to have some discussions about not allowing that to happen,” LaFleur said after the game. “It’s disappointing when he plays one play.”
Options at right tackle
Without Tom, the natural replacement to play at right tackle is second-round rookie Anthony Belton, who played 75% of the snaps in Week 2 and 54% of the snaps in Week 3.
However, when Tom went down on Sunday, the first option to play there was last year’s first-round pick Jordan Morgan. Nevertheless, Morgan had to move inside to left guard when Aaron Banks suffered a new groin injury. If both Banks and Tom are out, the likeliest scenario would be Morgan at left guard and Belton at right tackle.
The third option is Darian Kinnard, acquired by the Packers via trade right before the season. The former Philadelphia Eagle has positional flexibility, but rotated with Belton in the first half of the Commanders game—he’s a better run blocker.
Zach Tom is one of the most valuable offensive players on the Packers. Third in All-Pro votes at right tackle last year, he signed a four-year, $88 million extension with Green Bay during the offseason.
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