The career of long-time Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari has taken yet another unfortunate turn. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Packers are placing the two-time All-Pro on injured reserve, potentially ending his season.
The #Packers are placing All-Pro LT David Bakhtiari on Injured Reserve, knocking him out at least the next four games, per me and @TomPelissero. But given his knee situation, it’s unclear when or if Bakhtiari will return this season. pic.twitter.com/l6A2iDAE3N
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2023
Bakhtiari appeared and played well in the Packers' Week 1 38-20 triumph over the Chicago Bears, but missed the next two games after evidently aggravating his longstanding knee injury.
Bakhtiari was one of the league's elite offensive tackles before terrible luck derailed his career in 2020. Shortly after signing a colossal four-year, $92 million extension that at the time made him the league's highest-paid offensive lineman, Bakhtiari suffered a devastating ACL tear in practice that would cost him the 2020 postseason and all but one game of the 2021 season. He played sporadically in 2022 and was effective when available, earning a 79.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus over 11 starts.
Bakhtiari's setback will be yet another obstacle for a Packers squad in the middle of an awkward transition. After years of fielding one of the NFL's most reliable offenses under quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have handed over their passing attack to 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love.
Unfortunately for Love, the Packers aren't exactly putting him in a position to succeed. With Rodgers traded away to the Jets and Bakhtiari's season and even career in doubt, the Packers are down to a single player on their offense with Pro Bowl experience: running back Aaron Jones. If Love's going to prove he's the Packers' next franchise quarterback, it may have to be close to a one-man show.
Photo Credit: © Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
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