Despite finally returning to practice, David Bakhtiari won't be available to play for the Green Bay Packers when they face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 15.
Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the decision on Friday, though it doesn't mean Bakhtari suffered any setback. In fact, he participated in all of the team's practices since returning on Wednesday–including a padded practice on Thursday, per Packers News.
David Bakhtiari has been sidelined as he recovers from the ACL injury he sustained last season. He was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list last November and even joined the team's practices, but another knee surgery delayed his return.
With that said, it is not surprising that the Packers opted to sit him out despite seemingly 100 percent healthy already. After all, it is not easy to return from a long absence due to injury, and so Green Bay probably wants to ensure that their All-Pro tackle is more than ready.
After the Ravens, the Packers have three more games left, facing the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings next before finishing off the regular season against the Detroit Lions.
For what it's worth, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently opened up about his expectations on Bakhtiari's return. The reigning MVP warned that while they don't expect the veteran offensive tackle to immediately perform like an All-Pro, he knows very well what the “Big Giraffe” is capable of.
“That’d be nice to get the big giraffe back out there,” Rodgers said. “We’re not going to have 1st-team All-Pro expectations from snap number 1, but 80% of the big giraffe is better than most of the guys in the league.”
While it is still unknown when Bakhtiari will suit up again, it is safe to expect to see him in the playoffs at the least.