Packers linemen David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga encouraged by progress
GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers took a step – albeit just the first of many still needed – toward getting their offensive line whole again.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari, who sprained his left ankle during the night practice at Lambeau Field on Aug. 5, was back on the field Sunday. Though he only took part in individual drills – Kyle Murphy took the team reps -- his return confirmed that the injury wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked when it happened.
“I think today was a good day,” he said. “Just wanted to see the progression. Obviously, they want to integrate me back in – don’t want to just throw me in right away – but everything felt good.”
On the same day that Bakhtiari was back in uniform, right tackle Bryan Bulaga started getting snaps in team drills. Bulaga, who is coming off a torn right ACL, was taken off the physically unable to perform list Aug. 3 and has been taking part in individual drills only.
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He took a few snaps in team work during the non-padded work the team did the day before the Tennessee Titans game, but this was his first official camp practice playing 11-on-11.
It’s unclear whether he’ll play in an exhibition game, but he said the goal is still the same: Be ready for the season opener against Chicago.
“I’m optimistic about it,” he said. “I feel like it’s an attainable goal. It’s something that I’m working up to. It’s not something you just jump right back into doing. A full workload of team reps and the next day you’re all sore and swollen and then you can’t do any work; there’s no point in doing that.
“Taking it slowly and progressing into things slowly and putting more workload on the knee day by day is the steps we’re taking. It’s gone well so far.”
Left guard Lane Taylor had started taking team reps after offseason ankle surgery, but he did not take part in any 11-on-11s after sitting out the Tennessee game Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
Taylor wouldn’t identify what his new injury is, but he said it was minor.
“Nothing ankle-related,” Taylor said. “I’m just getting healthy and being smart and getting ready for the season.”
Adam Pankey moved ahead of Lucas Patrick on the depth chart and started for Taylor at left guard.