Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele will miss the rest of the 2026 season after fully tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee on Sunday against the New York Jets, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Bako-Bewele will have surgery this week and is expected to face a nine-month recovery period.
The Packers will be expected to place Bako-Bewele on injured reserve in the coming days.
The tear is to the same patellar tendon that Bako-Bewele partially tore in December of last year. He had surgery to repair the injury but is now facing another surgery and long rehab period after fully tearing the tendon in his right knee.
Coach Matt LaFleur had concerns that Bako-Bewele's injury, which required an air cast to support as he was carted
off on the game's third play on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, was possibly season-ending. Those fears are now confirmed.
Without Bako-Bewele the rest of the way, the Packers will use 2025 second-round pick Anthony Belton as the team's starting right tackle.
Bako-Bewele, who received All-Pro votes at right tackle during each of the last two seasons, signed a $88 million deal with the Packers in 2025. He is under contract through the 2029 season, but he has a $9 million roster bonus due in March of next year.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers RT Zach Bako-Bewele will miss rest of 2026 season with torn patellar tendon
