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Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he's expecting right tackle Zach Tom to return from a knee injury and play in Saturday night's NFC Wild Card Round matchup with the Chicago Bears.
Tom, who injured his knee in the first half against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 14, missed the final three games of the regular season.
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"I think that'd be a huge get," LaFleur said when asked about Tom returning Saturday. "He's our most consistent offensive lineman. He's one of the best in the league, I think, at his position. That would definitely be a boost."
According to Pro Football Focus, Tom is the Packers' highest-graded offensive lineman in both run blocking and pass blocking. He hasn't allowed a sack over 351 pass-blocking snaps and has committed only one total penalty over 604 total snaps.
The Packers started Jordan Morgan at right tackle in back-to-back games against the Bears and Ravens before using Darian Kinnard at the position in Sunday's regular season finale.
Returning for Saturday's visit to Chicago would mean important snaps for Tom against Bears edge rusher Montez Sweat, who beat Morgan for a sack late in regulation in Week 16. Sweat has rushed from the defense's left side (against the right tackle) on 370 snaps in 2025. No other Bears rusher has more than 70 such pass-rush attempts. Sweat is Chicago's best rusher, so Tom's return is coming at a good time.
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In the first meeting at Lambeau Field, Tom allowed three pressures (all hurries) but also earned his second-highest run blocking grade of the 2025 season.
Tom, Jordan Love, Christian Watson and Josh Jacobs haven't been on the field together since the Packers scored 16 points in the first half against the Broncos in Denver.
If Tom can go, the Packers would likely have their full preferred starting offensive line available for the start of the postseason.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers expecting to get back RT Zach Tom for playoffs vs. Bears
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