Green Bay Packers' left tackle David Bakhtiari to open year on PUP list

When the regular season begins, the Green Bay Packers will be without starting left tackle David Bakhtiari. Bakhtiari, who is working his way back from a torn ACL, will remain on the physically unable to perform list, said Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.

Remaining on the PUP list will result in six lost regular season games for Bakhtiari. He will miss games against the Saints, Lions, 49ers, Steelers, Bengals, and Bears.

After being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Bakhtiari has spent his entire career in Green Bay. He has started 118 games at left tackle over his eight seasons in the NFL. Bakhtiari is a three-time pro bowler and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and 2020.

In November of 2020, The Packers signed Bakhtiari to a four-year, $92 million contract extension.

Bakhtiari is regarded as one of the best left tackles and offensive linemen in the NFL. Losing him will be a tough blow for the Packers, but they believe that they have a capable player to replace him with.

The Packers might have another star to plug in at left tackle

Former Mississippi State offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins will start the season as the Packers’ left tackle while Bakhtiari is out. The Packers believe that Jenkins is a more than capable left tackle, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer.

“The Packers raved all summer about Elgton Jenkins,” Breer tweeted. “They honestly believe he might be the best lineman in football right now. And talking to other teams, he hardly looked out of place at left tackle. So the experiment in moving Jenkins out there now becomes real.”

Bakhtiari’s placement on the physically unable to perform list comes in the midst of the Packers’ roster cuts to trim the roster down to 53. On offense, the Packers released running backs Patrick Taylor and Dexter Williams, wide receiver Reggie Begelton, and offensive linemen Jason Capra and Ben Braden. Defensively, they cut cornerbacks Stephen Denmark, Rojesterman Farris, and Kabion Ento, safety Christian Uphoff and linebacker Tipa Galeai.