Packers lose Bakhtiari for rest of season
All-pro left tackle suffers knee injury in practice
GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers have lost left tackle David Bakhtiari for the rest of the season and the playoffs to a knee injury that they fear is a torn ACL, according to an NFL source with knowledge of the injury.
Bakhtiari, who’s been named first team All-Pro once and second team three times, sustained the injury in practice Thursday.
NFL Network first reported the news of Bakhtiari’s injury.
The injury comes just six weeks after Bakhtiari signed a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the game. His new contract included a $30 million signing bonus and averages $23 million in new money and $20.7 million over the full five years.
The Packers’ options for replacing Bakhtiari include moving guard Elgton Jenkins to left tackle, which they did against San Francisco earlier this season after Bakhtiari left the game because of a ribs injury. They also could move right guard and tackle Billy Turner to left tackle, which they did for the three full games after Bakhtiari’s ribs injury.
This is a major blow to the Packers’ Super Bowl chances given Bakhtiari’s talent and importance in keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers healthy. Coach Matt LaFleur can leave Bakhtiari oneon-one on almost any pass rusher and count on him protecting Rodgers’ blindside.
It is the second ACL tear the Packers have had this season on the offensive line. Five top members of the offensive line – Bakhtiari, guard Lane Taylor, Turner, center Corey Linsley and right tackle Rick Wagner – have missed time due to knee injuries.
Another, sixth-round draft pick Simon Stepaniak, tore his ACL in December of 2019 and spent all of training camp and more than half the season rehabbing.
The Packers will have a number of options, but for the Chicago Bears game Sunday they may have to move Jenkins to Bakhtiari’s spot.
When Bakhtiari broke a rib and missed three games, Turner moved over from right tackle and started – at Houston, vs. Minnesota, at San Francisco.