Will David Bakhtiari play in Packers’ Week 3 matchup vs. Bucs?

Will All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari be available for the Green Bay Packers’ matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3?

The Green Bay Packers will be hoping to have their star left tackle David Bakhtiari back in the near future, but will he be ready for Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, head coach Matt LaFleur said he had “no idea” whether Bakhtiari would be ready to play this week.

Following that, the five-time All-Pro was held out of practice on Wednesday. However, there is some more encouraging news on Thursday.

David Bakhtiari returns to Packers practice on Thursday

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bakhtiari returned to practice today.

That’s a potentially good sign ahead of Sunday’s game.

Matt LaFleur doesn’t give much away when talking to reporters. Even today, he answered “we’ll see”, when asked whether Bakhtiari would practice. Not long later, the All-Pro tackle was out there on the practice field.

The fact Bakhtiari was able to practice is good news, and hopefully a sign he’s aiming to play this week.

Friday’s injury report is the important one. The Packers must decide by then whether Bakhtiari is ruled out for Week 3, doubtful, questionable, or off the injury report altogether.

How Bakhtiari feels after today’s practice could be a factor in it, so it’s possible the Packers don’t yet know whether he is likely to make his return this week.

It has been a frustrating journey back to playing for Bakhtiari, who has featured in just one game since tearing his ACL in December 2020.

This would be a good week to get him back with a tough matchup coming up against a dominant Buccaneers defense.

Bakhtiari practicing on Thursday is good news, but will he be ready to go in Week 3? Only time will tell.