Packers coach Matt LaFleur gives David Bakhtiari injury update

The Green Bay Packers will be without several key playmakers when they battle the undefeated Arizona Cardinals.

Starting left tackle David Bakhtiari returned to practice last week but didn’t suit up for the Packers home game vs. Washington.

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur gave an update on the Packers big man on Wednesday.

“A lot of it comes down to just collectively, with David being part of that group, our medical staff, obviously [General Manager Brian Gutekunst] and all of us kind of getting together to make the best determination of where he is and if he’s ready to go or not,” LaFleur said, via Matt Schneidman of TheAthletic.com.

The Green Bay Packers front man reiterated they don’t want to rush their star left tackle back into action.

“I think everything is up in the air with him in terms of — I said a long time ago it’ll be day to day — but the last thing we want to do is, again, put him at further risk. He’s coming off a really significant injury. He looks great. He’s worked his tail off. He’s put a lot of hours in. We just want to make sure the timing’s right.”

While the Bakhtiari news isn’t surprising for fans of the Pack, this week’s wave of COVID absences could prove to be a major challenge come Thursday night.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers would like to have his top wide receiver and one of the best in the business on the field Thursday night when the Green Bay Packers play the Arizona Cardinals, but that may not happen. He is hopeful that even in Davante Adams’ potential absence, the Packers can find a way to take down the NFL’s only undefeated team.

Rodgers has “dealt with” games without Adams in the past due to minor injuries, and the Packers boast a 6-0 record in those contests.

“I don’t know. We’re not a better team without him, that’s for sure,” Rodgers said regarding winning without Adams. “Look at each of those games, we just found a way.”

Adams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, but the Rodgers is not concerned about his health despite spending a lot of time with his top target. Thankfully for the Packers, the change with Adams was known early enough to adjust the game plan. 

In addition to Adams’ absence, wideout Allen Lazard was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been working through a hamstring injury which has sidelined him for the last four games. If all three receivers are unavailable on Thursday, the Green Bay Packers will be without its top-three pass catchers. 

Receiver Randall Cobb and running back Aaron Jones will likely be Rodgers’ go-to targets on Thursday in the event the other three are out.