Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari has been placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury that has plagued him for the past three years. This is Bakhtiari's third surgery on his knee, and he has been limited in his playing time as a result. The Packers announced this move before their upcoming game against the Detroit Lions. Bakhtiari had already missed the previous two games and will now have to sit out at least the next four matchups. He will be eligible to return on November 5th against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bakhtiari, 31, is considered one of the top pass blockers in the league when he is healthy. He has received multiple honors as a first and second-team All-Pro selection. However, his knee injury has been a recurring issue since tearing his ACL on December 31, 2020. Last season, Bakhtiari only played one game due to the knee injury, and during the 2021 season, he played 11 games but sat out for a total of six, including three due to the knee injury and three to recover from an appendectomy.
Although Bakhtiari started the current season strong and performed well in the season-opening victory against the New Orleans Saints, he has not played since then. He has expressed his frustration with the ongoing knee issues and hopes for a solution in the future.
It's not just Bakhtiari who is dealing with injuries on the Packers' offensive line. Left guard Elgton Jenkins will also miss his second consecutive game due to a sprained medial collateral ligament suffered in Week 2.
On a positive note, Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will make his season debut, and running back Aaron Jones will return from a two-game absence due to hamstring injuries.
As for the Detroit Lions, running back D'Andre Swift and offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who both missed a game due to injuries, are available for Thursday's game. However, the Packers will be without cornerback Kevin King, who will miss his second straight game due to a back injury.
