Former Packers LT David Bakhtiari receives encouraging injury update
Left tackle David Bakhtiari has finally received some positive news regarding his knee injury. According to NFL Network's insider Ian Rapoport, the former Green Bay Packers All-Pro offensive lineman had follow-up exams after new surgeries and has been proclaimed on schedule to be back in 2024. The exams have been made by Dr. Brian Cole. […]
Left tackle David Bakhtiari has finally received some positive news regarding his knee injury. According to NFL Network's insider Ian Rapoport, the former Green Bay Packers All-Pro offensive lineman had follow-up exams after new surgeries and has been proclaimed on schedule to be back in 2024.
The exams have been made by Dr. Brian Cole. Bakhtiari needed new surgeries last year after playing only one game, his last one for the Packers, against the Chicago Bears in week 1.
Later, the offensive lineman said they were finally able to identify the cause for the new problems — the ACL has been fully recovered for a long time, but the 2020 injury brought other problems.
Since the injury on December 31st, 2020, Bakhtiari played only 13 games — 11 of them in 2022. He played only half a game in 2021, the last regular season one against the Detroit Lions, and just one game in 2023 — week 1, against the Chicago Bears.
History in Green Bay
David Bakhtiari was drafted by former general manager Ted Thompson in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He turned out to be one of the Packers' best picks in recent history.
He started at left tackle from day 1 after Bryan Bulaga suffered a torn ACL injury on Family Night. Bakhtiari played so well right away that Bulaga was moved to right tackle when recovered. The left tackle played 8,433 offensive snaps and 447 special teams snaps.
During his career in Green Bay, David Bakhtiari made the First-Team All-Pro twice (2018, 2020), the Second-Team All-Pro three times (2016, 2017, 2019), and the Pro Bowl three times (2016, 2019, 2020). In the last part of the 2010s, he was widely considered one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in the league.
What Bakhtiari can do
Now, there's a question about how healthy Bakhtiari is and if he will be able to play again. If he doesn't pass a physical, the player can qualify for an injury protection of $1.23 million, which would also count against the Packers cap.
The worst scenario for the Packers is if Bakhtiari files an injury grievance up to his total projected salary ($21.4 million).
If he does, Green Bay would immediately have to handle a cap hit of 40% of that amount ($8.6 million). When the grievance is decided, the Packers could have an extra hit or money credited back in the future.
If Bakhtiari plays, though, that helps the Packers to avoid future implications.
Five potential landing spots for David Bakhtiari
Left tackle was released by the Packers last month
