GREEN BAY — Zach Tom was not about to make any promises, not after what he’s been through during the past five weeks. 

What the Green Bay Packers starting right tackle can tell you is that he cannot take another week on the sidelines, waiting for his persistent right oblique injury to heal.

Tom was able to take part in Monday’s back-from-the-bye practice inside the Don Hutson Center, but even Tom himself had to admit that it in no way guarantees his return to the lineup for Sunday’s matchup between the Packers (2-1-1) and Cincinnati Bengals (2-3) at Lambeau Field.

“Obviously getting back out there is the first step, but for me personally, I can’t stand on the sideline for a whole game. That [expletive] … that’s not it. I just can’t,” Tom said afterward. “You just feel so useless. I just can’t do it. Can’t do it.”

Tom, who suffered the oblique injury in the Packers’ season-opening win over the Detroit Lions, missed the team’s Week 2 win over the Washington Commanders, then tried to play the following week at Cleveland, only to depart after one snap after trying to block Browns star edge rusher Myles Garrett on the first play of the game.

Tom then sat out the Packers’ pre-bye tie with the Dallas Cowboys, and he’ll have to thoroughly test the oblique during the course of the week before trying to give it a go against the Bengals.

“Put the pads on, get hit a little bit, take on a bull rush, see where it’s at,” Tom replied when asked what the plan is for the week. “I felt good out there today. Obviously Wednesday we’re going to put the pads on, see where it’s at.

“That’s really going to be the bigger test. Because today I was just doing everything on air. But it felt like I was moving pretty well, I felt pretty confident, way less pain.”

Left guard Aaron Banks (groin) has followed the same rollercoaster with his injury, although he did last longer against the Browns than Tom did. Banks did not come through the locker room during the media access period on Monday.

“Obviously, this is something you’re probably going to be dealing with the rest of the year,” Tom said of his injury. “We’ve just got to get the pain to a point where it’s manageable. I think we’re getting there.”

The only three players on the active roster who did not practice Monday were defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, who left the team’s 40-40 tie with the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 28 with a knee injury, and backup right tackle Anthony Belton, who suffered an ankle injury in practice the week of the Cowboys game and was inactive as a result.

Monk’s window opens |  While most of the attention centered around wide receiver Christian Watson’s return to practice from the physically unable to perform list, the Packers also had backup center Jacob Monk back at practice, having designated him for return from injured reserve.

Monk suffered a hamstring injury late in training camp, forcing him to miss the first four games of the regular season. But he pronounced himself good to go on Monday, and his return would give the Packers more depth options on the line.

“I think the most I’ve missed [before this] was probably two weeks when I got my knee scoped in college,” Monk said. “It’s a different approach to the game [while you’re injured], to be locked in mentally because when it’s time to come back, it’s time to come back.

“I’d love to go out there and play, but you never know. Just trying my best to stay ready.”

While Watson and Monk were back in action, three other players remain on injured reserve and two others on PUP.

Rookie defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring) and offensive tackle John Williams (back) are both on PUP, while running back MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring), defensive end Brenton Cox (groin) and wide receiver Jayden Reed (collarbone, foot) are still on IR but are eligible to return. Tackle/guard Travis Glover (shoulder) is on IR and done for the year.

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