The Green Bay Packers are heading into a high-stakes NFC North clash against the Chicago Bears with a laundry list of injury concerns, and one of their most reliable offensive linemen won’t be suiting up. Right tackle Zach Tom, who exited last week’s game with a knee injury and didn’t return, is expected to miss today’s matchup. He was held out of practice all week and officially listed as questionable, but all signs point to him being sidelined.
Tom’s absence is a big blow for Green Bay. He’s been a steady presence on the edge, helping anchor a line that’s had to weather its fair share of injuries this season.
Without him, the Packers turned to Darian Kinnard last week, but now Kinnard is dealing with a neck injury of his own. He was limited in practice and also carries a questionable tag into Sunday.
If he can’t go, rookie Jordan Morgan is the likely next man up. Morgan split first-team reps with Kinnard during the week and could be thrust into a pivotal role in one of the biggest games of the season.
And that’s just the start of the Packers’ injury shuffle.
Running back Josh Jacobs and wide receiver Christian Watson are both dealing with injuries - Jacobs with a knee issue, Watson with shoulder and chest concerns - but both are expected to test things out during pre-game warmups. Their availability could swing the offensive game plan dramatically.
Jacobs brings physicality and downhill power to the backfield, while Watson’s vertical threat stretches defenses and opens up space underneath. If either - or both - can’t go, the Packers will be leaning heavily on their depth.
On the defensive side, safety Evan Williams is also trending toward being out. He suffered an MCL sprain last week on the same play that saw Micah Parsons tear his ACL. Williams was replaced by Zayne Anderson in that game, and Anderson is expected to step in again if Williams is ruled out.
Green Bay has already ruled out tight end Josh Whyle due to a concussion, and interestingly, they haven’t elevated a tight end from the practice squad to replace him. That could signal confidence in the current group or a shift in how they plan to deploy personnel packages.
The Packers’ final injury report also includes several other key contributors listed as questionable: running back Chris Brooks (chest), wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), defensive end Kingsley Enagbare (illness), and defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (groin). Each of those names carries weight in terms of depth and rotational impact, especially on defense where Enagbare and Cox have been part of the edge rotation.
Bottom line: this game is shaping up to be a war of attrition. With the NFC North potentially hanging in the balance, the Packers are going to need contributions from every healthy body they’ve got - and maybe even a few who aren’t quite 100%.