Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said swelling in David Bakhtiari’s surgically repaired knee was to blame for his team’s starting left tackle missing Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Bakhtiari was listed as questionable entering the contest and was made inactive for Sunday despite playing in Week 1. LaFleur dismissed the idea that the artificial turf in Atlanta played a factor in Bakhtiari’s availability.
“His knee is injured. There was swelling,” LaFleur said Monday.
LaFleur also said he didn’t think Bakhtiari would have played Sunday had the game been at Lambeau Field.
All offseason and training camp, LaFleur said Bakhtiari’s knee would create a “fluid” situation in which the Packers might have to make late adjustments based on how the knee was feeling day to day.
Swelling has been a problem for Bakhtiari throughout his recovery from a significant knee injury suffered on New Year’s Eve in 2020. Three surgeries and almost three years later, Bakhtiari and the Packerws are still dealing the impact of the injury.
It’s unclear if Bakhtiari will play during Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. He hasn’t practiced since Aug. 30.
Rasheed Walker and Yosh Nijman rotated in and out in place of Bakhtiari at left tackle. The Packers are also dealing with a multiple-week injury to left guard Elgton Jenkins, creating moving parts along the offensive line entering Week 3.
In terms of looking ahead, the Packers will practice and put up the first injury report of Week 3 on Wednesday. A final injury report arrives Friday.
Bakhtiari played 30 pass-blocking snaps in Week 1 and did not give up a pressure.