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The Green Bay Packers only have two tight ends on the gameday roster for their playoff matchup against the Chicago Bears. This means that backup offensive lineman Darian Kinnard will be expected to play some reps at tight end tonight, which he’s done since the Tucker Kraft injury. On top of that, though, he will serve as the next man up at all positions other than center on Saturday, as the Packers have ruled out right tackle Zach Tom, who has been dealing with back and knee injuries.
Tom’s last game played was Week 15 against the Denver Broncos, when he played fewer than half of the team’s snaps before going down with a knee issue. At the start of the week, head coach Matt LaFleur said that the expectation was that Tom was going to play this round of the playoffs, but Tom went from a limited participant on both Tuesday and Wednesday to a non-participant on Thursday’s practice, a move that was described as a “rest day” by the staff. Obviously, though, something changed throughout the course of the week.
Add this to your list of Packers’ offensive line bad luck in the postseason, be it David Bakhtiari’s injury in a practice on New Year’s Eve in 2021, last year, when Elgton Jenkins, who is currently on the injured reserve, went down against the Philadelphia Eagles or when Green Bay had the bright idea to start Billy Turner at left tackle, after never playing there previously for the Packers, in a playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Tom is expected to be replaced by Jordan Morgan, who has served as his injury replacement over the past couple of weeks. Behind him, it will be Kinnard, who is expected to serve as the backup at both tackle and guard positions.
Beyond Tom, the Packers ruled receiver Dontayvion Wicks out on Friday after a full two-week stint in the NFL’s concussion protocol. To make up for Dontayvion Wicks being out and Savion Williams and Bo Melton being placed on the injured reserve, the Packers have brought up two former practice squad receivers, Jakobie Keeney-James and Isaiah Neyor.
Up to a pool of 54 gameday players to make up their 48-man active gameday roster, the Packers also make four healthy scratches on Saturday: QB Desmond Ridder, WR Jakobie Keeney-James, DE Collin Oliver and CB Jaylin Simpson. QB Malik Willis, DT Warren Brinson, LB Nick Niemann and S Javon Bullard will all play after being listed as questionable going into the weekend.
Below is what the depth chart should look like tonight. If you want to read our full breakdown on the depth chart, you can find it HERE.
