{"id":52296,"date":"2022-08-21T22:33:48","date_gmt":"2022-08-21T22:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-activate-tackle-david-bakhtiari-from-pup-list\/"},"modified":"2022-08-21T22:33:48","modified_gmt":"2022-08-21T22:33:48","slug":"packers-activate-tackle-david-bakhtiari-from-pup-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-activate-tackle-david-bakhtiari-from-pup-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers activate tackle David Bakhtiari from PUP list"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el\" aria-label=\"Video - Bakhtiari returns to Packers practice off PUP list, does drills first time this offseason\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">GREEN BAY \u2013 In the lowest moments of his 20-month nightmare, when his left knee was swollen and his mind was weary and the football field couldn&#8217;t have felt further away, David Bakhtiari&#8217;s will was tested.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">He had signed a four-year, $92 million extension with the Green Bay Packers six weeks before tearing an ACL on New Year&#8217;s Eve 2020, a contract he demanded be the richest annual salary for any offensive lineman in NFL history putting before a pen to it .  That was back when Bakhtiari was invincible, the best pass blocker in football.  His indomitable spirit kept getting chipped away over the months that followed, as setbacks recycled, surgeries piled and a recovery process that&#8217;s supposed to last roughly 10 months almost doubled.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">For Bakhtiari, rehab was hell.  The fluid in his knee would n&#8217;t reduce.  His return date felt like a blind, moving target.  In those moments, Bakhtiari said, he realized how much he loved the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">No, he wasn&#8217;t calling it a career, not until he&#8217;d exercised every last option.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cMentally,\u201d Bakhtiari said, \u201cI was more like I was going to have to be pulled away from my ankles with my nails gripping the ground being ripped off.  Because I definitely was not going out without fighting.  It definitely tested me.  I don&#8217;t know if my test is done yet, but it would be more by force than personal decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Bakhtiari&#8217;s long road back ended, he hopes, Sunday morning.  A day earlier, Bakhtiari met with the Packers medical staff.  They decided it was time for him to be activated from the physically unable to perform list.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">His first practice came Sunday afternoon on Ray Nitschke Field, a week after the Packers activated Elgton Jenkins and Robert Tonyan from PUP.  None of the three are doing team reps yet.  That will be the biggest hurdle to clear before deciding whether they can play in the Packers&#8217; opener Sept.  11 horses Minnesota.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt&#8217;s just we&#8217;re going to take it a day at a time,\u201d coach Matt LaFleur said after making it clear expectations should be tempered.  \u201cThere&#8217;s no thought as far as Week 1 is concerned right now.  We just want to see how he responds, and when he&#8217;s ready, he&#8217;s ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Bakhtiari, 30, didn&#8217;t back away from big expectations.  He said the motivation is \u201cextremely high\u201d for him to return for the opener.  \u201cThere&#8217;s a lot of ambitious things that I want to do,\u201d he said.  Of course Bakhtiari, more than anyone, knows how quickly high expectations can fade.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_fo__bet-best\" aria-label=\"Scores and odds from Tipico\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-type=\"comment\"><!--@pre<iframe class=gnt_em_fo_if src=\"\/tangfrag\/sports\/gaming\/bet-best?prm-embedded&prm-teamid=659&prm-gnteamid=17&prm-league=NFL#fhp-assetid=7841842001\" loading=lazy sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-forms\" title=\"Scores and odds from Tipico\"><\/iframe>--><\/aside>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">More than once last season, Bakhtiari thought he was back.  He returned from PUP last November, but the scar tissue in his knee prevented it from feeling normal.  A second surgery was needed to fix cartilage damage.  He returned from that surgery to play 27 snaps in the Packers finale at the Detroit Lions, but even then he wasn&#8217;t fully back.  The Packers shut him down before last year&#8217;s playoff loss against the San Francisco 49ers, and Bakhtiari needed a third surgery to clean scar tissue.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The third surgery forced Bakhtiari to miss the Packers&#8217; entire offseason program, placing him on PUP until Sunday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cIt&#8217;s unfortunate,\u201d Bakhtiari said.  \u201cI&#8217;d love to be able to sit here and be like, &#8216;It was so quick.  Everything&#8217;s smooth.  This is great.&#8217;  But there were a lot of unforeseen things that I had to go through, and it sucked.  It definitely wore me down for sure, but I know I&#8217;m not going to quit.  I do not care.  You can keep going in there, we&#8217;re going to keep freaking turning the engine on, and start in gear one and go up to gear six again.  If we stall out in gear three, cool.  What&#8217;s going wrong?  All right, cool.  Let&#8217;s go back through.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThat&#8217;s more of the mental attrition that I had to constantly keep going through.  It was when we started ramping up, and then I was like, &#8216;God, I have to go through this again?&#8217;  That was the part that just sucked, and I knew I could sit here and sulk or take it day by day.  Sulking is not going to make my knee better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">At minimum, Bakhtiari&#8217;s return from PUP should lead to a spot on the team&#8217;s initial 53-man roster.  The Packers can not put Bakhtiari back on PUP to start the season once he is activated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">More:<\/strong>With David Bakhtiari still out, Packers making the most of Yosh Nijman&#8217;s versatility<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">More:<\/strong>Green 19 Podcast: Jenkins, Tonyan and Watson return, preseason debut, Saints come to town<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">When Bakhtiari and Jenkins return, a Packers offensive line that has sifted through a lot of weeks uncertainty in the first three of camp will solidify overnight.  Bakhtiari is a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection.  Jenkins was a Pro Bowl left guard in his last full season of 2020 and can play all five positions on the line at a high level.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">LaFleur cautioned not to expect Bakhtiari and Jenkins to return at full speed immediately after missing so much time on the field.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cYou&#8217;ve got to knock the rust off,\u201d LaFleur said, \u201cand they&#8217;re going to have to work through some things, but certainly they know how to play the game.  They know what to expect when they go out there.  Just their ability to communicate and see things, their experience kind of speaks for itself.<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cSo I do think there&#8217;s going to be a ton of benefit to when we can get them out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">There was a joyous mood around the Packers following Bakhtiari&#8217;s first practice.  LaFleur welcomed his left tackle to break down the post-practice huddle.  Teammates gave Bakhtiari a round of applause.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">At his locker, Bakhtiari spoke for the first time since camp&#8217;s opening day.  Aaron Rodgers tossed a pair of socks at his good friend, startling Bakhtiari.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cKnowing Aaron,\u201d Bakhtiari later said as he picked up the socks, \u201cthose are probably dirty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">It&#8217;s now his job to keep his quarterback clean.  It&#8217;s a responsibility Bakhtiari has never taken lightly, but never quite fully appreciated like he does now.  \u201cI didn&#8217;t realize how much I loved the game,\u201d Bakhtiari said, \u201cuntil it was trying to be taken away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Bakhtiari said being on the field, strapping his shoulder pads, brought him peace.  His world has been restored.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">This time, he hopes there are no setbacks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cStuff that gets taken from you when it&#8217;s not by your choice,\u201d Bakhtiari said, \u201cthat was something I had a hard time giving up.  Basically, my knee saying no.  and this time now, I realize that I can not control as much as I want to be in control of my destiny.  It&#8217;s more like, &#8216;Hey, what are you feeling like today, knee?  How you doing?  You holding up well?  Just letting you know that we&#8217;re in this together, man.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThat&#8217;s been a special moment that I&#8217;ve had really to this point, and I&#8217;m grateful to be back out there again.  Hopefully this is it, no more back and forth.  Just positive, daily steps in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_hf gnt_em__lp\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-type=\"method\" data-gl-method=\"loadHb64\" aria-label=\"PackersNews\" data-t-cel=\"hb64\" data-gl-hb64=\"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\"\/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GREEN BAY \u2013 In the lowest moments of his 20-month nightmare, when his left knee was swollen and his mind was weary and the football field couldn&#8217;t have felt further away, David Bakhtiari&#8217;s will was tested. He had signed a four-year, $92 million extension with the Green Bay Packers six weeks before tearing an ACL &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-activate-tackle-david-bakhtiari-from-pup-list\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Packers activate tackle David Bakhtiari from PUP list<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27536,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-tackle-david-bakhtiari-determined-to-return-in-all-pro-form\/","url_meta":{"origin":52296,"position":0},"title":"Packers tackle David Bakhtiari determined to return in All-Pro form","date":"July 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"GREEN BAY - David Bakhtiari compares it to driving a sports car. His finely tuned body is an unnatural blend of size, speed and flexibility, athleticism most people can only dream to possess. It's top of the line, the total package for an All-Pro offensive lineman.At least when he's healthy.Bakhtiari\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52174,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/packers-activating-lt-david-bakhtiari-off-of-pup-list\/","url_meta":{"origin":52296,"position":1},"title":"Packers activating LT David Bakhtiari off of PUP list","date":"August 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The training camp of All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari will officially begin on Sunday. Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Bakhtiari is coming off the physically unable to participate (PUP) list and will do individual drills on Sunday. \u201cDave's coming off PUP today. He'll be out there at practice\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27340,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/jaire-alexander-returns-tonyan-works-rehab\/","url_meta":{"origin":52296,"position":2},"title":"Jaire Alexander returns, Tonyan works rehab","date":"July 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Green Bay Packers open 2022 training camp with a practice on Wednesday. Refresh this page for updates from Ray Nitschke Field.Gallery:Check out some of the highlights from our Green Bay Packers photo archive projectMore:Mason Crosby endures, but Green Bay Packers finally taking steps to remedy crisis on special teams\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45431,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/in-the-next-step-in-the-process-green-bay-packers-activate-three-players-off-pup-list-including-tight-end-robert-tonyan\/","url_meta":{"origin":52296,"position":3},"title":"In &#8216;the next step in the process,&#8217; Green Bay Packers activate three players off PUP list, including tight end Robert Tonyan","date":"August 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers' outlook for Week 1 improved on Sunday after coach Matt LaFleur said three key players -- offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, tight end Robert Tonyan and rookie receiver Christian Watson -- have been activated off the physically unable to perform list .While it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24183,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/green-bays-david-bakhtiari-placed-on-the-pup-list\/","url_meta":{"origin":52296,"position":4},"title":"Green Bay&#8217;s David Bakhtiari placed on the PUP list","date":"July 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"on Saturday, ESPN's Field Yates reported that the Green Bay Packers have placed left tackle David Bakhtiari on the physically unable to perform list. Bakhtiari, who missed the vast majority of last season's action, is recovering from a 2020 ACL tear. According to Bakhtiari himself, issues arose with his recovery\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54474,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/green-bay-packers-practice-news-and-notes-8-23-rasul-douglas-gets-snaps-at-safety\/","url_meta":{"origin":52296,"position":5},"title":"Green Bay Packers practice news and notes, 8\/23: Rasul Douglas gets snaps at safety","date":"August 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"After dodging the question yesterday, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stated today that the Packers' starters, for the most part, will not play in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. LaFleur said, \u201cIt's just the risk versus reward, knowing it's a long season having\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/08\/21\/PPAN\/b649fe64-e4b9-4590-ab80-08ac5e7f1ae2-MJS_APC_Packers_vs._Saints_081922_234_ttm.jpg?width=660&height=472&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52296"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52296"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52296\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}