Key Takeaways:
– Former Green Bay Packers’ offensive tackle, David Bakhtiari, confirmed his status as a free agent.
– Bakhtiari expects to finalize his rehab and be back in action soon.
– The Packers’ plan for a replacement includes both Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan.
David Bakhtiari, former offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, recently offered insights into his NFL free agent status. On a social platform, when questioned about remaining unsigned, Bakhtiari expressed his optimism about making a comeback.
Health and Rehab Status
On June 18, 2024, Bakhtiari revealed, “It’s mutual. I’m waiting to make sure there’s no question marks about the knee. We are nearing the end of my rehab, so things are gonna heat up on both ends in the coming 2 months.” Clearly eager, he added, “I’m excited to remind everyone again.”
Bakhtiari’s confidence suggests his health and game-readiness could soon attract interest from NFL teams. If he regains his former performance level, he could indeed be a major asset as a left tackle.
Tracing Bakhtiari’s Injury Journey
David Bakhtiari, once the highest-paid lineman in NFL history, had a setback in 2020. Despite signing a four-year, $105.5 million extension with the Packers in November of that year, Bakhtiari suffered a torn ACL. This ended his current season just as Green Bay prepared for the postseason.
Following a typical rehab timeline for ACL injuries, Bakhtiari aimed to return by the end of the 2021 season. His return seemed promising when the Packers activated him from the PUP list in November 2021. He even returned to the field for the team’s regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions. However, the team’s playoff loss saw him sidelined once again.
Despite a rocky road, Bakhtiari showed resilience. In 2022, he played 11 games, only missing some due to an appendectomy. The start of the 2023 season seemed promising, but another knee surgery ended his season prematurely after just a single game. The Packers let him go during the off-season as he continued his recovery. Now at 32, time may not be on his side, but Bakhtiari’s potential value to prospective teams shouldn’t be discounted.
Packers’ Strategy for Left Tackle
The Packers have felt the impact of playing without Bakhtiari. But they have plans for their left tackle situation in 2024. Rasheed Walker made a strong impression as the new starting left tackle last season. After some initial struggles, Walker adapted, showing marked improvement towards the end of the year.
However, the Packers are not putting all their eggs in one basket. General manager Brian Gutekunst brought in Jordan Morgan, their first-round pick in this year’s draft. Despite Morgan’s struggles in the offseason workouts, he’s getting the necessary grounding. The Packers are hopeful that the rookie will settle into the NFL regime soon. While he may take up another position, Morgan continues to pose a competition for Walker, intensifying the left tackle situation ahead of the training camp.
While Bakhtiari navigates his challenging injury journey, his optimism about returning to the NFL remains strong. Based on his recent statement, it’s clear that Bakhtiari is keen on getting back to the field once his knee is deemed ready. His recovery progress and prospective return will undoubtedly be a major talking point in the coming months in the NFL circuit.