In Week 4 NFL action, Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers traveled to play the Dallas Cowboys. The Packers were predicted to recover well from their Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns. It wasn’t like that.
Green Bay didn’t win the game, but they also didn’t lose. Rather, the Sunday Night Football game concluded in overtime with a 40-40 tie. The Packers didn’t feel like they were tied in that game. There was a sense of loss.
After being touted as a top-tier Super Bowl candidate after the first two weeks of the season, Green Bay fell to 2-1-1 on the year. Although defeating the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions was a remarkable accomplishment, two games aren’t very important.
The Packers head into their bye week with plenty to think about after their dramatic tie with the Cowboys. Their next test will be at Lambeau Field against the Cincinnati Bengals, and if they’re going to get back on track, one issue looms larger than the rest: the offensive line.
Injuries have gutted the unit, leaving Green Bay scrambling for answers. Against Dallas, they were without Aaron Banks, Zach Tom, and Anthony Belton, and the lack of depth was glaring. Protecting the quarterback and creating running lanes has become a weekly struggle, and the frustration has spilled over into the fan base and media.
Some of that frustration has even sparked calls half-serious, half-joking for the team to reach out to a familiar face: former star tackle David Bakhtiari. Once the anchor of the Packers’ line, Bakhtiari’s career was derailed by persistent knee injuries, and he hasn’t shown any real desire to lace up his cleats again. Still, the idea of a reunion has caught traction on social media. Easton Butler of Packer Report tweeted directly at Bakhtiari: “Hey @DavidBakhtiari, how’re you doing outside of football? Do you have any plans to return and play, or are you ‘retired’?” Meanwhile, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic playfully tagged him in another post, suggesting the Packers should at least ask the question.
Realistically, Bakhtiari isn’t coming back. But the fact that fans and writers are even bringing his name up shows just how desperate the situation has become. For the Packers, the bye week offers a much-needed chance to regroup, get healthier, and find answers before facing a dangerous Bengals defense. Whether or not Bakhtiari is watching, Green Bay knows fixing the line is priority number one if they want their season to stay on track.
Realistically, David Bakhtiari isn’t about to stroll back into Lambeau and fix the Packers’ offensive line woes. As much as the fans would love it and they still hold him in high regard from his years in Green Bay, the reality is that injuries forced him away from the game, and it looks like he’s stepped aside for good.
That said, you can never say never. If Bakhtiari ever feels the competitive fire again and decides he’s ready to give football one more shot, there’s no place that would make more sense than a return to the Packers. It’s a long shot, but it’s also the kind of story fans can’t help but dream about.