Packers expecting Zach Tom (knee) to be ready for 2026 season

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is not expecting Zach Tom 's knee injury to cost him time during the 2026 season.

Last month, Tom revealed he suffered a partially torn patellar tendon during the first half of the Packers' loss to the Denver Broncos in December and is considering having surgery to fix the injury. It's possible the surgery is already complete. But even though Tom will miss time during the offseason workout program, the Packers are confident he'll be ready to go by the start of the 2026 season.

“Really proud of Zach and how hard he fought to get out there and play with what he was dealing with," Gutekunst said Wednesday. "He’s going to be on the shelf for a little while here during the offseason but I wouldn’t expect it to impact his 2026 season."

Tom is one of several key players who will be rehabbing major injuries this offseason, joining edge rusher Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft , who both tore ACLs during the 2025 regular season.

Tom battled through several injuries early in the season, including a torn oblique muscle in Week 1 and a lingering back injury. After returning full time in Week 6, Tom played in 10 straight games. But he went down with the knee injury in Week 15 in Denver and then missed the Packers' final five games, all losses, including the postseason defeat in Chicago . Tom attempted to work his way back in time to play in the postseason, but the knee didn't respond to treatment and he was inactive for the NFC Wild Card Round.

"It really didn't improve like we wanted it to," Tom said last month.

Surgery on the knee would require a multi-month recovery period, even on a partial tear repair.

According to Pro Football Focus, Tom allowed only 16 total pressures and committed just one penalty over 604 total snaps in 2025. He received All-Pro votes at right tackle for the second consecutive season despite missing five games and over 400 snaps of play time.

Tom started 51 games over his first four seasons in Green Bay . He signed a four-year, $88 million contract extension with the Packers before the 2025 season.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers expecting Zach Tom (knee) to be ready for 2026 season