The Green Bay Packers are out of the NFL Playoffs following their disheartening 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday night. And while it is undoubtedly a disappointment, the fact of the matter is that Green Bay was so banged up that there were few who believed they could make an extended postseason run.
Of course, injuries are no excuse for poor play, and the Packers themselves are not using them as such. That being said, Green Bay saw a plethora of their starting players go down with significant/season-ending injuries.
And while being eliminated, especially by the Bears, is disappointing, there is plenty to be optimistic about regarding Green Bay’s roster in 2026 once they get all of their players back healthy.
Green Bay Packers star Zach Tom reveals he tore his PCL
Among the star players that the Packers lost throughout the course of the season were tight end Tucker Kraft and All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons. They each suffered season-ending torn ACL’s at various points in the year, and their absence drastically affected Green Bay’s approach on both sides of the ball.
But even with those losses, many believe the Packers could have been more successful towards the end of the season if right tackle Zach Tom had been healthy. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in the same game in which Parsons tore his ACL, and he ended up not being able to return for the rest of the season either.
On Monday, he revealed to reporters that he had torn his PCL and had tried to play through the pain, but simply could not. What is more, he has decided to get offseason knee surgery that will require him to undergo a six-month recovery.
“It was probably one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in my life. Obviously, you want to be out there in the playoffs because that’s when everything’s at stake. I just don’t think I was in a position where I could go out there and help the team … I just want to get it out of the way, get it over with and move on.”
This approach and Tom’s attempt to come back and play despite his pain is a stark contrast to those of former Green Bay cornerback Jaire Alexander, who suffered a similar injury while with the Packers last year. Following the season, he had nothing good to say about the team or organization, and was, of course, released prior to training camp.
Of course, Tom is in a very different position than Alexander in terms of contract, as he is fresh off of signing a four-year $88 million extension. With this in mind, Tom also told reporters he wants to work with doctors and the training staff this offseason to ensure he does not suffer another ligament tear next year.
Fans may recall that he played through a torn pectoral muscle in 2024.
Getting Tom back healthy in 2026 will go a long way to help the offense improve, and will be even more vital given the fact that he could very well be the only regular starter from the offensive line returning next season.
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