The Green Bay Packers’ playoff hopes took a hit Thursday when Pro Bowl left tackle David Bakhtiari sustained a serious knee injury in practice, according to multiple media outlets.
The injury is believed to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament, NFL Network reported.
The news comes at a bad time for the playoff-bound Packers (12-3), who would clinch a first-round postseason bye with a Sunday win at Chicago (8-7) or a loss or tie Sunday by the Seattle Seahawks (11-4) against the San Francisco 49ers (6-9).
Bakhtiari missed three games at midseason due to broken ribs, and Billy Turner moved from his normal spot on the right side of the offensive line to man left tackle. Another option to replace Bakhtiari could be second-year left guard Elgton Jenkins, who was just selected to the Pro Bowl.
Bakhtiari, 29, was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his eight-year career this season. Selected by Green Bay in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of Colorado, he has missed only nine of a possible 127 games. Bakhtiari was selected to the All-Pro team in 2016.
In mid-November, Bakhtiari signed a four-year, $103.5 million contract that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in league history.