Matt LaFleur: Green Bay Packers OT David Bakhtiari to come off PUP list

On3 image — Photo by Jorge Lemus/Getty Images

The Green Bay Packers veteran is on the mend. After missing most of the last two seasons, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari is on his way back to playing full speed just ahead of the 2022 season. According to a report from Packers reporter Pete Dougherty, Bakhtiari is coming off of the PUP list. Or, the “physically unable to perform” list. Here was the report:

“Coach Matt LaFleur says David Bakhtiari is coming off PUP today and will take part in individual drills this week. Doesn’t have timeline on when Bakhtiari might be game ready.”

So no indication of whether he’ll play in the season-opener for certain. However, a positive step in Bakhtiari’s latest injury recovery. Given the Packers turnover along the offensive line in the last year, they’ll need a stable performer like him back in the lineup pronto.

PFF certainly believes he’s valuable…

PFF ranks David Bakhtiari as 23rd best player in NFL

Just in time for the start of the training camp portion of the NFL offseason Pro Football Focus (PFF) unveiled its list of the top 50 players in the NFL. And despite missing the majority of the 2021 season recovering from the torn ACL he suffered to end the 2020 year, the Green Bay Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari made the list at number 23.

Bakhtiari missed almost the entirety of the 2021 NFL season, and Green Bay missed him. Except for one appearance against the Detroit Lions in Week 18, the star offensive lineman was relegated to the sidelines dealing with fluid build-up and eventually undergoing a second surgery. Green Bay under-achieved with an early playoff exit despite being the No. 1 seed in the NFC due to a series of injuries along their offensive line.

“Another Packers player who missed almost all of 2021. Bakhtiari played just 27 snaps in the regular season in an effort to get back for Green Bay’s playoff run. Previously, when he’s been fully healthy, Bakhtiari was the best pass-blocking tackle in the game, allowing nine pressures across 446 pass-blocking snaps in 2020. A healthy Bakhtiari should still be an elite force in 2022.”