Packers tackle David Bakhtiari determined to return in All-Pro form
GREEN BAY – David Bakhtiari compares it to driving a sports car. His finely tuned body is an unnatural blend of size, speed and flexibility, athleticism most people can only dream to possess. It’s top of the line, the total package for an All-Pro offensive lineman.
At least when he’s healthy.
Bakhtiari has not been healthy for almost 19 months. This bulky left knee that has stalled out at least three times since tearing his ACL on New Year’s Eve in 2020, requiring at least three surgeries now, won’t corporate. Bakhtiari knows what his body can do when everything is right, when it feels “normal,” but for a year and a half he’s been unable to heal.
“Imagine driving a sports car,” Bakhtiari said, “and keeping it in the first gear.”
There have been many iterations of the same injury since Bakhtiari twisted his knee in a noncontact rep three days before the Green Bay Packers traveled to Chicago for their regular-season finale in 2020. He didn’t just tear his ACL that day, but also his meniscus. There was cartilage damage. His knee was shredded, a broken engine preventing him from reaching top gear.
It felt that way last January when the Packers traveled to Detroit for a meaningless regular-season finale. The NFC’s top overall seed was secured win or lose two weeks before a home playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. There was no need for Bakhtiari to play 27 snaps that day, but his quarterback wanted a test run with his franchise left tackle. It was never an ideal situation for Bakhtiari to make his reentry. The Lions play at Ford Field, an indoor stadium with synthetic turf instead of natural grass. The surface is known to be hard on leg joints.
Aaron Rodgers implored Bakhtiari in a text message that week to do whatever he could to be available. The Packers hoped Bakhtiari would feel good after Detroit, protecting Rodgers in the playoffs. Instead, those 27 snaps were all he played last season.
Bakhtiari said he needed another procedure on his knee this offseason. The surgery prevented him from participating in the team’s organized team activities and minicamp. He’s now on the physically unable to perform list for a second straight year, though he isn’t recovering from the same injury that held him out last year.