Green Bay Packers LT David Bakhtiari (knee) off PUP, easing back into practice

GREEN BAY, Wis. — David Bakhtiari's circuitous return from the torn ACL in his left knee that he sustained 598 days ago had him back on the practice field for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Since the initial injury on Dec. 31, 2020, the All-Pro left tackle underwent three surgeries on the knee — the most recent of which came this offseason — and played only 27 snaps, all in the 2021 regular-season finale at Detroit.

Coach Matt LaFleur announced Sunday that Bakhtiari had been removed from the physically unable to perform list and would be eased back into practice.

LaFleur offered no promise of a return date and said Bakhtiari's availability for the Sept. 11 regular-season opener at the Minnesota Vikings has not been decided. But by removing him from the PUP list, the Packers have made Bakhtiari eligible to play when the season begins. Had he remained on the PUP list after final roster cuts on Aug. 30, he would have been out for a minimum of four weeks.

«He's only going to do individual [drills],» LaFleur said before practice. «So you guys can kind of temper the expectations because I know there's going to be a bunch of questions now. It'll just be individual. It's just the next step, but we are excited to get him out there on the grass. We'll take it one day at a time.»

It took Bakhtiari almost the entire season last year to get on the field, and then after the Lions game, he was shut down again for the playoffs. In between the initial ACL reconstruction and the Detroit game, Bakhtiari had a second surgery to reduce swelling in the knee. Bakhtiari did not give a reason for the third surgery.

«He's been making really good progress, and mentally, I think he's in a very good place as well,» LaFleur said. «He's worked his