LT David Bakhtiari carted off field at Family Night with ankle injury
-- The Green Bay Packers may have suffered a potentially devastating blow to their offensive line during their annual Family Night scrimmage.
During team drills, All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari suffered an ankle injury that caused him to limp off the field and eventually, get carted to the locker room.
Backup tackle Kyle Murphy replaced Bakhtiari while Jason Spriggs handled reps at right tackle in place of Bryan Bulaga, who returned to practice for the first time on Friday since tearing his ACL in November.
Bulaga's situation hasn't worsened, but the Packers are likely easing him back into action and taking a conservative approach with the ninth-year lineman.
Bakhtiari, however, could spell a horrific scenario for the Packers.
Any thoughts on David Bakhtiari’s ankle @ProFootballDoc ?? pic.twitter.com/ZS4f7ZvwqZ
— Jake (@SeedsofJake) August 5, 2018
Not only has Bakhtiari ascended to being one of the league's top pass-protecting tackles, but he's arguably one of the top three most valuable players on the Packers' roster. When it comes to protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers' blindside, spare no expense.
According to Aaron Nagler of PackersNews.com, coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Bakhtiari was dealing with an ankle injury and that was all he knew.
The Packers had 10 players not practicing for Family Night.
__________________________
Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (36)
Bert
August 04, 2018 at 09:43 pm
Losing Bak for any length of time would hurt. Guys like him aren't just walking around waiting for the phone to ring and we have nobody even close on the roster. Let's hope it's not too serious and he'll be at least ready for the season opener.
Tundraboy
August 05, 2018 at 08:17 am
Let's pray. For Christ's sake. Just started checking today's news,reading Kramers speech with a big smile on my face, and boom! Another Packer injury report. Could barely savor the good news about Bulaga for more than a day!. Sigh. Along with Yanks losing to Eovaldi , I'm not having a good night. Better days ahead. Just a rough patch.
GBPDAN1
August 05, 2018 at 02:55 pm
It never ends...Packers injuries! Why play one of the top 3 players on the team on family night? Bak is good enough that some practice time, and then playing the first half of the 3rd preseason game would have him ready for the opener (like they do with Rodgers). What bothers me more is the injury happened towards the end of the event. He should have been pulled by then.
I hope this is just a sprain.
I bleed green more
August 04, 2018 at 09:51 pm
Better have a deep bench injury bug is to early dang it.
GBPDAN1
August 04, 2018 at 11:31 pm
Just read this on another site;
" Bakhtiari remained in the locker room after practice, but there was a sense among teammates that his injury wasn’t serious. "
Which sounded better then the first sentence on this site ;
" The Green Bay Packers may have suffered a potentially devastating blow to their offensive line during their annual Family Night scrimmage. "
Let's hope for the best!
NickPerry
August 05, 2018 at 05:50 am
What site was that?
Edit......MJS had a piece on his injury and the feeling I got from it was they think he'll be okay....Taylor and Lindsey both THINK he'll be okay but can't say for sure until tomorrow (today).
Since'61
August 05, 2018 at 08:48 am
Thanks Nick. Good post. Let's hope for the best. Since '61
Bure9620
August 04, 2018 at 10:04 pm
Oh Criminy.....
ScaryGary
August 04, 2018 at 10:17 pm
bahk is as tough as daniels, it will take more than an ankle sprain to stop him. good experience for spriggs in practice next few weeks. why are they practicing with a polar bear wearing a #80 jersey? i thought only tom brady got to play with a polar bear
Tundraboy
August 05, 2018 at 07:12 pm
Assuming you're right, and I hope you are,this could be a blessing. Unfortunately,as usual, it takes an injury to an irreplaceable starter to force them to give the reps to other players, especially ones we need to find out more about who really need them.
Since'61
August 04, 2018 at 10:47 pm
A few seasons ago we lost Bulaga on family night and Bakh got his chance. Now we may have lost Bakh on family night.
Anyone else think we should bag family night?
What is the point of exposing our players to unnecessary injuries? Hopefully Bakh’s injury is not serious.
Thanks, Since ‘61
kevgk
August 04, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Theyre exposed to injuries all throughout camp, and Family Night helps player development according to coaches. I wouldnt hold it to a higher standard than practice.
GBwastedthe12thoverallpick
August 04, 2018 at 11:14 pm
It's a televised practice, w/ fireworks at the end. Stop it.
TheBigCheeze
August 04, 2018 at 11:49 pm
.....keep family night......just a sprain
DraftHobbyist
August 05, 2018 at 02:30 am
No, because while we deal with some injuries, the information our coaches get is invaluable. Taking away Family Night wouldn't even protect the players because they would still have to have a practice at some point. It's just that this practice simulates a game better than any other team's practice and every other team in the NFL probably wishes they could get our Family Night atmosphere for one practice.
NickPerry
August 05, 2018 at 05:43 am
It's the first thing I thought of Since '61, though I don't think I used the word bag.
Coldworld
August 05, 2018 at 07:30 am
Family night is a practice with a crowd. No real difference to other practices for the players except a chance for the coaches to see young players under the lights and see how they respond. Also gives those who may not have played for big schools get a taste of Lambeau atmosphere.
Might as well say cancel training camp. Injuries are inevitable in preseason but one less practice won’t make a difference.
Hopefully we hear good news.
Demon
August 05, 2018 at 08:17 am
The only positive I can see in family night is it allows some people inside Lambeau that would not be able to otherwise. With ticket prices climbing and the season ticket waiting list a family going to games is getting more difficult. I've been to a couple of them and it is great to see the wonderment in the faces of the kids.
fthisJack
August 05, 2018 at 07:43 am
we talkin bout a practice, man. we talkin bout a practice...not a game. we talkin bout a practice! we talking bout a practice, man!
Oppy
August 05, 2018 at 05:38 pm
Since '61,
Family Night used to be an actual inter-team scrimmage between the Packers and another NFL team, with competitive live reps and tackling, albeit with players and coaches who understood that while they were going to play hard, they weren't out for blood.
That was ended under TT/MM about a decade ago (I believe) after a some big injuries, and it was turned into not much more than a glorified practice in the interests of preserving player health.
As others have noted, here really isn't anything about Family Night in its current form that makes it any more of a liability than a regular day practice on Nitschke field. It's just under the lights and in view of more people.
Demon
August 05, 2018 at 06:17 pm
Not to my knowledge it hasnt been. Family night has always been the intersquad scrimmage. I'd always hoped the pack would participate in the cheese leage scrimmages but, they never did.
Wass fun when the Chiefs were in River Falls the Jags in Stevens point, the Bears in Platteville, and
Oppy
August 05, 2018 at 07:29 pm
http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/2126519
Oppy
August 05, 2018 at 07:33 pm
They did. Although I will admit, I thought they had done it for family night more than once, apparently not. I am almost sure there was a specific team they used to schedule annual scrimmages with for a few years- perhaps it wasn't on family nights- during the early 2000's.
Oppy
August 05, 2018 at 07:55 pm
Now this is going to really bother me. Clearly, my memory isn't quite right with the details- but I know there was a specific team (Probably AFC) that the Packers used to work with- either in specifically scheduled scrimmages, or perhaps during preseason games- where the coaching staffs agreed to certain terms for the sake of mutual good work and training getting done on the field- like going for it on 4th down in what would be otherwise improbable situations, etc, and so forth. This was taking place in the 2000's.
It was the same team for a few years straight. Does anyone have any insight into what I'm remembering? Was it the Bills?
Edit: Starting to wonder if it was the Tennessee Titans after browsing through the mid 2000's pre season schedules- Packers faced the Titans for a number of years in a row.
TKWorldWide
August 05, 2018 at 09:29 pm
And the Saints in La Crosse.
Demon
August 05, 2018 at 06:23 pm
To my knowledge family night has never been inter- team. It has always been the inter-squad scrimmage. I'd often hoped that the pack would participate in the Cheese League but, they never did.
Bears... Platteville
Chiefs...River Falls
Jags... Stevens point
Saints ... La Crosse (I think)
DraftHobbyist
August 05, 2018 at 02:27 am
I'm pretty hopeful this isn't long-term. We can survive this injury IMO, especially short-term, but obviously we don't want it, and Bakhtiari is a stud in our system.
PAPackerbacker
August 05, 2018 at 05:42 am
I don't remember reading anywhere that the ankle injury was just an ankle sprain. Let's hope that's all it is. Why do the Packers have so many injuries every year? Bakhtiari is a player that can not be replaced. Far to many injuries already and the season hasn't even started yet. With all the coaching changes made this year perhaps it isn't to late to consider replacing conditioning coaches as well. Are other teams experiencing this many injuries every season? Maybe they are and I don't realize it.
Coldworld
August 05, 2018 at 07:33 am
His foot got caught underneath him from what I have heard. That happens in football.
Not sure that is something any conditioning coach can have much impact on either way.
PAPackerbacker
August 06, 2018 at 05:07 am
It's not just this injury but the many that seem to crop up every year.
CJBauckham
August 05, 2018 at 07:59 am
After trainers evaluated him on the bench, removing his left cleat and sock, Bakhtiari was carted to the locker room. He only limped slightly and was able to walk unassisted to the cart.
Per Jsonline. That reads pretty positive; walking unassisted with an ankle injury feels less serious
Fingers crossed.
TKWorldWide
August 05, 2018 at 09:41 am
And to tiptoe through the tulips would be the best case scenario.
sonomaca
August 05, 2018 at 10:06 am
If he’s walking, it’s probably not too serious. Even so, will probably miss two weeks.
4thand1
August 05, 2018 at 08:20 am
I understand the angst with some people, especially losing AR last year. Watch the video, it looked pretty minor, then again so did Jordy's injury a few years ago. We probably won't see him in pre season which we wouldn't have anyway. He'll be there for game one.
GOPACKGO
PAPackerbacker
August 05, 2018 at 12:48 pm
Watching a video does not determine the extent of an injury. But I hope the injury isn't serious and he can play at the level we are accustomed to seeing him play. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Go! Pack! Go!
Cartwright
August 05, 2018 at 03:10 pm
Jason Spriggs was picked in the second round to back Bakh up, if that's the case we may as well install a revolving door at left tackle, at least that might jam once in a while. The video above does show Bahktiari's leg bending a bit, thought it was his knee. Ankles can bend, knees can't so maybe the vid isn't as bad as it seems and we dodge a bullet.