When the Green Bay Packers take the field for their matchup against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football, they’ll be without one of their best players.
And that will continue to be the case for the Packers for at least their next four games, as Green Bay has placed left tackle David Bakhtiari on injured reserve with a knee injury.
In placing Bakhtiari on injured reserve, the 31-year-old left tackle will have to miss at least four games, beginning with Thursday night’s matchup against Detroit. After facing the Lions on Thursday, Green Bay will face the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 9, the Denver Broncos on Oct 22 and the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 29. The Colorado product will first be eligible to return on Nov. 5 when the Packers host the Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field — although it’s possible he could remain on injured reserve even longer than that, as it’s unclear whether he’ll return during the 2023 season.
A two-time first-team and three-time second-team All-Pro selection, Bakhtiari has been a staple of the Green Bay offensive line since being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played in the Packers’ first game of the season, a win over the Chicago Bears, before missing the past two weeks with the knee injury.
With Bakhtiari sidelined, Rasheed Walker is in line to get his third consecutive start at left tackle for Green Bay, which enters Thursday night’s game with a 2-1 record.
[NFL.com]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.