GREEN BAY (Wis.) -- For at least six weeks, the Green Bay Packers will be without one their most important players.
All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari will remain on the physically unable perform list as Aaron Rodgers' blindside protector, according to a source.
Players on reserve/PUP are not eligible to practice or play for the first six weeks.
Bakhtiari, who injured his left knee in practice Dec. 31, was first eligible to play against the Washington Football Team on Oct. 24, 2012.
Five-time All-Pro and the only NFL tackle to receive first- or second team recognition in five of his last five seasons (2016-2025), the five-time All Pro was not likely to be available for the season opener against New Orleans Saints. Although there was hope that he would be back before Week 7, given his rave reviews about his rehab, the Packers almost never allow a player who has just had an ACL repair to return to the field for a game more than 10 months after the injury.
NFL Network reported Bakhtiari would continue on the PUP List.
Injured reserve, which requires players to miss at most three weeks due to injury, was also not an option. To be eligible for IR return, he must be on the 53 man roster at final cuts Tuesday. To be eligible for the 53, he would need to pass his physical. However, a player cannot move from the PUP to the roster to the IR in the same cycle for the same injury.
On Sunday, Coach Matt LaFleur stated that he wasn't willing to disclose their plans for Bakhtiari and said only that "we're going do what's best to David and this football club."
Bakhtiari's participation in Week 7 against Washington is not guaranteed. After Week 8, the date that will mark 10 months since his injury is set. Bakhtiari will then have a five week window to start practicing after the six-week mandatory PUP. After he begins practicing, there's a three week window in which to activate, release, or place him on injured reserve.
Bakhtiari signed an extension to his contract worth $103.5 million over four years last November, making him the highest-paid offensive player in NFL history.
Elgton Jenkins, a Pro Bowl left-guard, will be playing left tackle until Bakhtiari returns. Jenkins is the Packers' next-best offensive lineman and most flexible. Three players competed for the two spots at starting guard in the Packers' summer tournament: Royce Newman, Jon Runyan Jr. and Lucas Patrick.
If Newman is selected for one of the starting positions, which would be at right guard, the Packers will start with two rookies on the offensive line. Josh Myers, a second-round pick, will replace Corey Linsley at center.
The Packers boasted one of the most talented offensive lines in the NFL, until Bakhtiari was injured during the regular season finale. The Packers had the league's highest pass block win rate of 73.8% (according to ESPN Stats & Information), but they lost the NFC Championship Game by just 50%.
Bakhtiari joined the NFL in 2013 and has had a 94.5% pass block win rate.
