Green Bay’s premier offensive lineman Zach Bako‑Bewele suffered a full patellar‑tendon tear in Week 2 against the Jets and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. He faces surgery Thursday and a nine‑month rehab, leaving the Packers to reshuffle the right‑tackle spot.
Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Bako‑Bewele fully tore the patellar tendon in his right knee during the Week 2 victory over the New York Jets, carting off the field on the third play of the opening drive. He is scheduled for surgery on Thursday and will miss the rest of the 2026 season, with a projected nine‑month recovery period (source [1]).
The injury follows a partial tear of the same tendon in December 2025, for which he underwent offseason surgery. Bako‑Bewele, a fourth‑round pick in 2022, earned All‑Pro votes in each of the past two seasons and signed a four‑year, $88 million extension in July 2025 that runs through 2029, including a $9 million roster bonus due in March 2027 (source [1]).
Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the severity of the injury, noting that the early exit “doesn’t look good” and indicating the team will place Bako‑Bewele on injured reserve in the coming days (source [2]).
Who Will Replace Zach Bako‑Bewele?
The Packers are expected to promote 2025 second‑round pick Anthony Belton, who stepped in for Bako‑Bewele during the Jets game, to the starting right‑tackle role for the remainder of the season (source [2]). Belton, who has yet to fulfill his potential, will now shoulder a critical responsibility as Green Bay navigates a challenging early schedule.
Looking ahead, the injury could affect the Packers’ salary‑cap strategy. If Bako‑Bewele’s rehab extends into the summer, the team might consider a post‑June 1 release, which would free roughly $11.95 million in cap space while incurring about $6 million in dead‑money, and would also eliminate the upcoming roster bonus (source [3]). For now, the Packers must adjust their offensive line without their top right‑tackle as they aim to stay competitive in the NFC North.