Green Bay Packers

David Bakhtiari reveals extent of his ankle injury

Published Jan. 20, 2016 6:12 p.m. ET

foxsports

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari injured his ankle late in the year and missed the last two games of the regular season, plus the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Bakhtiari's absence seemed like an eternity for Packers fans. However, now that he has revealed the extent of his ankle injury, it's amazing that he was able to return for the Divisional round game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The 24-year-old tackle said he tore five ankle ligaments.

Via Ryan Wood of Press-Gazette Media:

#Packers LT David Bakhtiari said he tore 5 ankle ligaments. Extensive damage. Initially thought he needed surgery, does not expect to now.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) January 18, 2016

Against the Cardinals in Week 16, Don Barclay filled in for Bakhtiari at left tackle. The Cardinals racked up nine sacks in that 38-8 blowout, and two of them led to fumble-return touchdowns. It was back to the drawing board for the season-finale against the Minnesota Vikings.

In that game, the Packers put left guard Josh Sitton in Bakhtiari's place. That experiment was a failure, too, as Sitton gave up two sacks in a 20-13 loss. One of those was a strip-sack, which led to yet another fumble-return touchdown.

Against the Washington Redskins in the Wild Card round, J.C. Tretter got the start at left tackle. Although he allowed an early sack that resulted in a safety, the Packers won by a score of 35-18 with Tretter in the lineup.

When Bakhtiari overcame the odds, avoided surgery and returned to the lineup for the Divisional round, the Packers played the Cardinals much closer. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked only once, as he guided Green Bay to a hard-fought, 26-20 loss in overtime.

The Packers are a much better team with Bakhtiari protecting Rodgers' blind side, so they need him to make a full recovery this offseason and avoid another injury in 2016.