The 2023 season is over for Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bahtiari after just one game. On Friday, the offensive lineman confirmed to reporters that coming back for this season is not a possibility anymore. His new target to be back is next year's training camp.

According to Bakhtiari, doctors think it's a cartilage issue. He went through a new surgery recently, and will go through another this year.

David Bakhtiari spoke for nearly 40 minutes and went through his entire knee saga beginning with the ACL injury on 12/31/20.

The gist is that all along he had a femoral Condyle cartilage issue that they hoped wouldn’t become a problem. It did and now that, too, must be fixed.

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 6, 2023

The Packers left tackle tore his ACL on December 31, 2020, and has had multiple subsequent problems since then. He played half a game in 2021 and 11 games last year. This season, there was a better expectation after he was healthy for the entire training camp. He didn't play in the preseason as part of a maintenance plan, but was ready for week 1 against the Chicago Bears.

After the game in Chicago, however, Bakhtiari experienced swelling once again and missed the following games against the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. After that, he was placed on the injured reserve. The expectation was already that he would miss the rest of the season, but there was a slim hope he could come back.

From now on, second-year player Rasheed Walker will be the Packers starting left tackle. Left guard Elgton Jenkins, right tackle Zach Tom, and backup Yosh Nijman all have experience at left tackle too if needed.

And now what?

For David Bakhtiari, the future is a big question mark. He said his plan is to be back in 2024, but the Packers will have no clarity about that in March, when the new league year begins. By then, Bakhtiari's cap hit will become $40.465 million, and he's slated to make $21.4 million in cash next season.

It's unlikely that the Packers agree to bring him back at that price tag. They will probably try to execute a new deal, but Bakhtiari would have to accept that.

It's too early, but if Bakhtiari is done in Green Bay the Packers can still be cap liable for his remaining contract if cut in 2024

Injury Grievance could pay his entire 2024 contract – 40% immediately hits the 2024 cap until decided

Injury Protection also in play for $2.050M

— Ken – Packers Cap (@KenIngalls) September 28, 2023

If Green Bay releases him, they would open up $21.4 million in cap space, leaving behind a $19.065 million dead money. Moreover, Bakhtiari could try an injury grievance to recoup part or the entire amount of money.

Packers HC says he’s ‘very concerned’ with David Bakhtiari’s situation

Left tackle has been placed on IR