Packers’ Matt LaFleur ‘Very Concerned’ With David Bakhtiari’s Lingering Knee Injury

The offensive tackle has played in just 13 games since the start of 2021.

Ever since David Bakhtiari tore his ACL in December of 2020, the offensive tackle has struggled to stay on the field. Since the start of the 2021 season, Bakhtiari has only played in 13 games as he has undergone multiple surgeries on his knee.

Entering this year, it seemed like Bakhtiari was ready to play on a consistent level, but after playing vs. the Bears to start the season, Bakhtiari missed the last three games and Green Bay has placed him on injured reserve.

While appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur explained that Bakhtiari’s knee issues remain a concern.

“I’m very concerned, I mean this is year three of this, now, so obviously, very concerning,” LaFleur said. “When he played against Chicago week one, he was playing at an elite level with not a lot of practice. That just speaks kind of to the type of player that he is. He knows how to get his body and mind prepared mentally to go out there and compete at a high level, so any time you don’t have a Pro Bowler like him in the lineup, it is a concern.”

Packers offensive lineman David Bakhtiari has played in just 13 games since a knee injury at the end of 2020 :: Mark Hoffman/USA Today network

The 32 year-old Bakhtiari signed a four-year contract extension just a month before he first suffered his torn ACL, and the deal runs through 2024. Green Bay also restructured Bakhtiari’s deal in the offseason to give them more flexibility, but he now has a $40 million cap hit next season.

Before he suffered his injury, Bakhtiari was one of the best left tackles in the league, making five straight All-Pro teams and three Pro Bowls between 2016 and ’20.