When he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, it was unclear when David Bakhtiari would return to the Green Bay Packers lineup this season.
As it turns out, he won’t.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, the five-time All-Pro left tackle announced that he will miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign due to his knee injury. Bakhtiari told reporters that he will have to undergo an additional surgery to address the injury and his goal is to be ready by training camp ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
The 32-year-old Bakhtiari has been a staple of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected by Green Bay out of Colorado in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. In his first 10 years with the franchise, he has started 131 regular-season games.
Injuries, however, have taken their toll in recent years, as you’d have to go back to the 2019 season to find the last time he played in more than 12 games, as a torn ACL limited him to appearing in just one game during the 2021 season. Over the course of his career, Bakhtiari has been one of the best left tackles in football, earning three first-team All-Pro and two second-team All-Pro selections.
As for his future with the franchise, that remains unclear. While he remains under contract through the 2024 season, it’s possible Bakhitiari could be a salary cap casualty if he doesn’t agree to a restructured contract with the Packers.
With Bakhtiari sidelined, Rasheed Walker has started the past three games at left tackle for Green Bay.
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.