Much of the Packers’ success on offense in 2023 will depend on the play of Jordan Love in his first season as a starting quarterback and that of the team’s young pass-catching corps. One of the unit’s most important contributors, though, will still be David Bakhtiari. 
The veteran left tackle has been a mainstay throughout his 10-year career in Green Bay, but injuries have defined him for much of the recent past. A 2020 ACL tear has proven to be challenging to overcome for the 31-year-old, after it limited him to just one game the following season and delayed his debut in 2022. Multiple surgeries were required to allow the two-time All-Pro to eventually return to the field.
Bakhtiari wound up playing 11 games last year, one in which he practiced on a limited basis while rehabbing the surgically-repaired knee. An appendectomy also cost him time, but the former ailment is the one understandably receiving attention heading into training camp and the regular season. The three-time Pro Bowler feels as though he is in a good situation on that front as things currently stand, though.
“I feel really good,” Bakhtiari said, via Pete Dougherty of PackersNews.com (subscription required). “Obviously I don’t want to jinx it or oversell anything. But I think it will show up in how much I play… I was just giving it everything I could to make it work for last year. It wasn’t ideal, but sometimes you’re not dealt the best hand. Now I’d say from a strength standpoint I feel very strong.”
The Packers will no doubt proceed with caution with their blindside blocker considering his injury history and his importance to the team’s offense. Bakhtiari remained a standout performer, especially in pass protection, when on the field last year as his PFF evaluations demonstrate. A fully healthy campaign in 2023 would mark his first in four years, but it would provide Green Bay with vital stability along their offensive front. In the event Bakhtiari’s knee does not hold up as expected in training camp, though, other in-house options will be considered.
The Packers did not make any additions up front in free agency, and none of the team’s 13 selections in this year’s draft were used on O-linemen. That would leave Yosuah Nijman and Zach Tom – who combined to fill in for Bakhtiari on the blindside in 2022 during his absences – in line at the LT spot should the latter miss time again. The chances of that happening in 2023, however, appear lower than in recent years.
The human body wasn’t designed to take the kind of punishment Bakhtiari has endured. He’s an old school warrior who will likely have the mobility of an 80 yr old when he reaches 40. The Packers will regret not drafting a successor as he’s almost certainly going to miss a lot of playing time again this year.
Possibly. The knee is obviously a concern no matter what, however I wonder if he sheds a good chunk of weight after his playing days are over, can help tremendously. I mean, if Mark Schlereth is still walking, anything might be possible.
Also, GB has Yosh and ZTom. Not to mention Jenkins. My guess is 1 of them takes over at LT next year.
1 more season in GB and he’ll be gone.