GREEN BAY, Wis. — September 22, 2026 — The Green Bay Packers' already turbulent start to the 2026 NFL season has taken a devastating turn. Starting right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that he will miss the remainder of the season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. The injury, sustained in the first quarter of Sunday's 20-17 overtime win over the New York Jets, requires surgery and deals a severe blow to a Packers offense already grappling with adversity.
A Crushing Blow to the Offensive Line
Bako-Bewele, 27, had established himself as arguably Green Bay's most reliable offensive lineman when healthy. But for the second consecutive year, his season has been cut short by a patellar tendon injury. Last season, a partial tear in the same tendon sidelined him in Week 15. This time, the tear is complete. "I've just got to move forward," Bako-Bewele said at his locker, his voice steady but tinged with frustration. "It's definitely not what I anticipated happening. You've just got to get back to work and start thinking about next year."
According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, Bako-Bewele is in the second year of a four-year, $88 million contract extension that runs through the 2029 season. His absence leaves a gaping hole on the right side of the line, where second-year pro Anthony Belton is expected to step in. A second-round pick in the 2025 draft, Belton appeared in 14 games with seven starts as a rookie and took first-team reps at right tackle during the offseason while Bako-Bewele rehabbed. Now, he'll have an extended audition to prove he can be a long-term starter.
Packers' Playoff Hopes Dwindling?
The Packers entered 2026 with Super Bowl aspirations, but the first two weeks have painted a far bleaker picture. Green Bay surrendered 22 unanswered fourth-quarter points in a Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, then needed a furious comeback from a 10-point deficit to edge the Jets in overtime. With starting running back Josh Jacobs on the commissioner's exempt list, the Packers rank dead last in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 64.5 yards per game. Now, they've lost their best offensive lineman.
Adding to the concern, the team is awaiting a prognosis on starting wide receiver Jayden Reed, who left Sunday's game with a frightening back injury that required an overnight stay in New Jersey. Reed returned to Green Bay on Tuesday, but the Packers have yet to announce a detailed diagnosis. The injuries are mounting, and the schedule isn't letting up. Green Bay faces a short week with a Thursday night clash against the Atlanta Falcons, followed by a gauntlet that includes the Buccaneers, Bears, Cowboys, Lions, Panthers, Patriots, and Vikings before a Week 11 bye.
"We're not making excuses," head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters after Sunday's game. "We've got to find a way to get better, and that starts with the guys we have."
The one silver lining on the horizon is the potential return of All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons, who remains optimistic about coming back from last season's ACL tear. Reports suggest a Week 6 return against his former Cowboys is possible. But for now, the Packers must navigate a treacherous stretch without one of their most important players. As highlighted on Vulius, the road ahead is steep, and Green Bay's margin for error is razor-thin.
For die-hard Packers fans, the season is far from over, but the challenge has grown exponentially. The team will need to rally around its young replacements and hope that Bako-Bewele's recovery sets him up for a strong 2027 campaign. In the meantime, all eyes will be on Belton and the rest of the offensive line to see if they can hold up against the NFC's fiercest pass rushes.
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