The Green Bay Packers won’t yet reveal if left tackle David Bakhtiari will play on Sunday in the season finale, but he will practice again Friday after participating Wednesday and getting a day off on Thursday.
“Dave had great work yesterday. Part of our plan was to have him go yesterday, today he’ll condition and we’ll have him back out there tomorrow,” coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday.
Asked if Bakhtiari will play his first snaps of the 2021 season against the Detroit Lions, LaFleur said the team will have a better idea by the end of the week.
“I think we’ll get through Friday and see where we’re at on Saturday, and potentially make that call then,” LaFleur said.
Bakhtiari was a limited participant on Wednesday. He went through individual drills, beginning his third attempt at a comeback after having ACL surgery last year.
It’s unclear if the Packers would be comfortable playing Bakhtiari in the postseason without him first getting regular-season reps. Sunday would be his last opportunity.
LaFleur said the next step for Bakhtiari is getting back on the field and playing real reps.
If Bakhtiari doesn’t play, Yosh Nijman would start again at left tackle against the Lions. The Packers would then have to decide, with another two weeks before beginning of the postseason in the NFC Divisional Round, if Nijman or Bakhtiari is the best option at left tackle.
