Last week, the Green Bay Packers activated left tackle David Bakhtiari’s window to return to the field. However, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be suiting up for this Thursday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was asked about Bakhtiari’s potential return.
LaFleur mentioned that Bakhtiari looks great in his workouts, but Green Bay’s coaching staff wants to make sure it doesn’t rush him. While there’s still an outside chance that he’ll suit up for Week 8, there’s no indication that LaFleur is ready to place Bakhtiari back in the starting lineup.
“A lot of it comes down to just collectively, with David being part of that group, our medical staff, obviously, and all of us kind of getting together to make the best determination of where he is and if he’s ready to go or not,” LaFleur said, via The Athletic. “I think everything is up in the air with him in terms of — I said a long time ago it’ll be day to day — but the last thing we want to do is, again, put him at further risk. He’s coming off a really significant injury. He looks great. He’s worked his tail off. He’s put a lot of hours in. We just want to make sure the timing’s right.”
Reading between the lines, Matt LaFleur did not sound like someone today who thinks David Bakhtiari will be activated for Thursday’s game. That’s not a surprise. Next Sunday in Kansas City seems far more likely. LaFleur said Bakhtiari “looks great” but Packers won’t rush return.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 26, 2021
When healthy, Bakhtiari is arguably the best offensive tackle in the NFL. He has earned All-Pro honors five times over the course of his career and has made the Pro Bowl three times.
If the Packers don’t activate Bakhtiari for Thursday’s game, he could return to the lineup on Nov. 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Packers should have an official update on Bakhtiari this Wednesday afternoon.
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