Replacing Bakhtiari will be difficult
GREEN BAY – Matt LaFleur didn't diminish what the season-ending loss of David Bakhtiari means for the Green Bay Packers
The franchise left tackle, who apparently suffered a torn ACL during practice Thursday, is not only one of the Packers' best players. He is an All-Pro, the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history, having signed his fouryear, $105.5 million extension in November. He's one of the team's preeminent leaders. A cornerstone to an anticipated Super Bowl run.
After Bakhtiari there is a gaping hole on the left side of a Packers offensive
line that has reshuffled and recouped to plug leaks all season. This will be the most daunting gap to fill yet.
“It’s just one of those unfortunate, freak things that happens sometimes in practice,” LaFleur said Friday. It was certainly nobody’s fault. It was a freaky deal. It’s tough to replace a guy of his caliber. I mean, you’re talking about a premier left tackle in this league. But you feel so bad for Dave. Just all the work and everything he pours into this job, and he does such a great job, such a great team leader. So you always feel bad for him.
“But like I told our players, there’s going to be nobody that’s feeling sorry for us as a football team. Our standards, our expectations, they don’t change.”
The kind of injury-related loss the Packers are dealing with as they prepare for Sunday’s finale at the Chicago Bears is something every NFL team encounters.
But for almost two years, they have had remarkable fortune with their health. Guard Lane Taylor, who tore his ACL in this season’s opener at Minnesota, was the only starter in the past two years with a season-ending injury before Bakhtiari.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he got a phone call from Bakhtiari late Thursday afternoon. Hoping for good news, the potential league MVP got something else. Rodgers said he was still “grieving” a day later.
“You’ve got to move on,” Rodgers said, “but right now it’s still a little raw,
Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari was lost for the season Thursday. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he was still “grieving.”
and we’re still sad and hurting for Dave because that’s our brother, that’s our left tackle and teammate. It’s been a tough time for us, and times that by infinity is probably where he’s at right now.”
The Packers will have right tackle Rick Wagner available Sunday. Wagner has been limited in practice this week because of a knee injury, but he was dropped from Friday’s injury report.
“I think Billy has done a tremendous job,” LaFleur said, “all season long no matter where he’s played: right tackle, right guard, left tackle. You know, he’s got the right mindset, the right attitude. He’s a true pro. And that’s all those guys in that room.
“This is the best offensive line group I’ve ever been around, and I’m not even talking about the players. I’m talking about in terms of just the mindset in that room, how the guys prepare, and then I would say that it’s the best O line I’ve ever been around as well.”
Injury updates
Defensive lineman Kingsley Keke, who has been in concussion protocol all week following the Titans game, has been ruled out for the Bears game. Guard Simon Stepaniak, who recently came off of reserve/non-football injury after rehabbing an ACL injury sustained in December 2019, is listed as questionable.
Meanwhile, running back Jamaal Williams has been removed from the injury report after recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained against the Carolina Panthers. Tight end Jace Sternberger and safety Will Redmond, who were both working through concussion protocol this week, have also been removed from the final injury report and are available to play Sunday.
On the other side, the Bears will play Sunday without cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson (shoulder) and Buster Skrine (concussion). Safety Deon Bush (foot), safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. (neck), tight end Demetrius Harris (foot), tight end Cole Kmet (shoulder) and kick return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) are questionable to play.
Snacks in the mix?
Damon “Snacks” Harrison has landed in Green Bay.
The veteran defensive lineman the Packers claimed on waivers Wednesday was already with the team Thursday morning. Because Harrison had gone through the NFL’s protocol for COVID-19 precautions, he was able to bypass the standard five-day waiting period before joining his new team.
Coach Matt LaFleur indicated Harrison could “potentially” play Sunday.
“I think that’s always hard to ask somebody,” LaFleur said, “but then again you’re dealing with a true pro, a vet that’s been around and seen a lot, and it’s just how fast can we get them acclimated to what we’re trying to do and what we’re asking him to do.”