David Bakhtiari to be activated off PUP
The All Pro left tackle takes a big step toward returning.
By PackerAaron
Matt LaFleur told reporters earlier today that All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari will be coming off the physically unable to perform list.
The move is obviously significant and means the veteran offensive lineman will not be able to be placed on regular season PUP.
Just after being named to his fifth All-Pro team and signing a contract extension, Bakhtiari tore his ACL in late December of 2020, missing the Packers' playoff run and then all of last season until Week 18, when he played the first half at Detroit for a limited number of snaps. He went on to miss the team's playoff loss against the 49ers.
Bakhtiari spoke with CHTV about his injury late last year and then to reporters in open locker room at the start of training camp last month where he indicated that he had another surgery this past offseason to "clean it up."
The Packers will undoubtedly take it slow with their veteran left tackle but this is a very promising sign for his potential return this season.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Comments (17)
HawkPacker
August 21, 2022 at 12:00 pm
I had a good feeling that it would happen very soon. Great news.
PatrickGB
August 21, 2022 at 12:34 pm
About time! 😉
LambeauPlain
August 21, 2022 at 12:49 pm
Band's getting back together.
As well as Nijman has played, I wonder if Jenks moves back to G and Yosh to RT when Dave is ready for battle?
Steno always says he will play the best 5 (sadly did not in the last playoffs), and those 5 would seem to be Dave, Jenks, Myers, JRJ, and Nijman.
Coldworld
August 21, 2022 at 02:36 pm
That would be ideal. They won’t move him till both are fully back though. Then it’s a question of how long to get him comfortable with the switch in season.
FITZCORE1252
August 21, 2022 at 01:20 pm
Sick.
Since'61
August 21, 2022 at 01:27 pm
Great news!!! Thanks, Since '61
PackfanNY
August 21, 2022 at 01:46 pm
This is some good positive news on a Sunday. Happy for DBakh. Sounds like he still has some work but given that we are still 3 weeks out it’s all positive. Heck, the fact that he can’t start the season on PUP is a good sign. If it turns out to be week 2 or 3 l’ll take it.
jont
August 21, 2022 at 03:41 pm
beat me to it
this is exactly what I am thinking
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
August 21, 2022 at 02:41 pm
At this point not sure what being activated off PUP means for DB. Truly only time will tell and several games under his belt before we know. Regardless, I am only wishing DB the best and hope he can come back and play. Hopefully at the level he was when injured. The Packers need him!
dobber
August 21, 2022 at 04:03 pm
I had a feeling he wouldn't stay on PUP for the duration of camp. What it means for the Packers is that they expect him to be ready to play in the first 2-3 weeks of the season, but it might also mean that they'll have to keep an extra OL for them to have a full complement of players AND for him to get ready to play (assuming he doesn't play week 1, which feels likely). That means they have to go short somewhere else until they cut an OL or someone gets hurt.
Guam
August 21, 2022 at 05:23 pm
One OL is usually inactive each week and I suspect that will be Bahk until he is ready to play. I think they keep just nine and try to sneak a couple through to the PS.
dobber
August 21, 2022 at 06:00 pm
Maybe, but I think that works if Bakh only misses one game. We'll have to see how this plays out.
Guam
August 21, 2022 at 06:11 pm
I am really glad to see Bahk coming back though because Nijman and Jenkins were really the only effective tackles the Packers had on their roster. Toms, Rhyan and Walker may develop into tackles, but they sure aren't ready to start this season.
cpabandit
August 21, 2022 at 04:17 pm
I'm as a big a DB fan as anyone but he's been out two days short of 600 days. He may play a few downs in his first game back, whatever week that nay be. And it will take weeks after that to build up his stamina. He will never, ever be the DBakh that we love. GB is paying him $23,000,000 a year. I feel it is in the Packers' best interests to get rid of him, make some cap space and bring in proven veterans.
dobber
August 21, 2022 at 05:00 pm
"I'm as a big a DB fan as anyone but he's been out two days short of 600 days."
At this stage, he's essentially missed one season of games--as if he'd gotten hurt in personal workouts in the off-season and missed a full season. We know he's had several surgeries. We know he's not a kid. But let's see what he can do on the field.
"GB is paying him $23,000,000 a year. "
No. That's the AAV of his deal. His cap hit this season is about $13.5M with almost $36M in dead money if they cut or deal him. Even post Jun 1, that means he adds about $4.5M to the cap. In all, he's tethered to the Packers for 2022 and it's in their best interest for him to play well...but I think this is his last hurrah in GB.
vin0770
August 21, 2022 at 08:06 pm
Hope Bak and Jenk are both strong and back in the groove by October 30…it would be a great game to watch if both teams are full strength!
Starrbrite
August 21, 2022 at 09:56 pm
Outstanding—I’m with those who believe the best five are: Bak; Jenks; Nijman; Runyan; Meyers.