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Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur clarifies unfortunate decision to let injured Zach Tom play vs Browns

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Sep 22, 2025 7:53 PM ET

The Green Bay Packers were hit with a fierce reality check in their 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon. After dominating two of the best NFC teams (the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders) from a year ago in their first two games of the season, Green Bay played one of the worst games of the Matt LaFleur era against the lowly Cleveland franchise.

Indeed, the offense stalled despite numerous opportunities for big plays, and the special teams unit was (once again) a complete disaster. 14 accepted penalties against the Packers did not help either.

Furthermore, injuries to starting right tackle Zach Tom and left guard Aaron Banks did not help matters. Banks suffered a groin injury, which was different from his previous ailment that kept him out of the Packers’ Week Two game. But Tom’s oblique injury, which he sustained in Week One, limited him to just a single snap on Sunday.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur clarifies the decision to let Zach Tom play

Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur clarifies unfortunate decision to let injured Zach Tom play vs Browns 1 Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Zach Tom (50) blocks Detroit Lions defensive tackle Marcus Davenport (92) during the first quarter of their game Sunday, September 7, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Prior to the start of the regular season, the Packers gave Tom a massive four-year $88 million contract extension. He is clearly the best offensive lineman that they have and can play any of the five positions there.

Unfortunately, he injured his oblique in Green Bay’s first game and was not able to play in Week Two, just four days later.

However, after practicing all week leading up to the Browns game, the Packers felt that he was healthy enough to play.

They were wrong.

As mentioned, Tom only lasted on snap before having to be removed from the game.

On Monday, LaFleur clarified the decision to let him play.

“I would chalk it up to it’s hard to simulate what these guys are going to go against in the game,” he said. “We did our best in terms of trying to put him through enough and certainly had him going in practice, but still, the game—it’s a different speed.”

The good news, though, is that Tom did not make the injury worse. They just underestimated how bad it would hurt for him to play through in game speed.

The bad news, on the other hand, is that Tom’s status for Week Four when the Packers travel to take on the Dallas Cowboys is still unknown. One would assume that, given how he could not play more than one snap on Sunday, that he will not be able to play.

Fortunately, after the Cowboys game, Green Bay has a bye week, which will give Tom (and their other injured players) more time to heal.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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