For the first time in over a month, Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari was back on the practice field. The All-Pro participated during Wednesday’s practice, representing his first on-field action since Thursday, Nov. 11.
Bakhtiari hasn’t played this season while recovering from an ACL repair. He was activated from the PUP list on Nov. 10 but needed a knee scope to clean up the injured area, pushing back his timeline to return.
The first step in returning to play this season arrived Wednesday.
Here’s video of Bakhtiari practicing from the team’s official Twitter account:
.@DavidBakhtiari at work! #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/qBlxg4ecKb
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) December 15, 2021
It’s unclear if Bakhtiari will have a chance to play on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. He may need more practice time before he’s ready for a game environment. In fact, coach Matt LaFleur didn’t even think he’d be practicing on Wednesday.
However, Bakhtiari’s return to practice is the strongest suggestion yet that his return is imminent.
Getting back the All-Pro could be a huge boost to an offensive line decimated by injuries along the offensive line.
The Packers started Elgton Jenkins at left tackle for eight games, but he is now lost for the season with a torn ACL. Third-stringer Yosh Nijman, an undrafted free agent in his third season in Green Bay, has filled in at the position and played well.
The hope now is that Bakhtiari returns soon, starting center Josh Myers eventually returns and right tackle Billy Turner, who left Sunday’s win over the Bears with a knee injury, can return at some point this season. LaFleur expressed optimism that Turner will play again this year.
Last season, Bakhtiari gave up only one sack and 10 total pressures over 758 snaps and 446 pass-blocking snaps. He was a first-team All-Pro, marking a fifth consecutive season being named a first- or second-team All-Pro (2016-20).