A Packers rookie offensive lineman made his first start Sunday
David Bakhtiari’s injury is causing trouble for the Green Bay Packers offense. The Packers announced earlier this morning that Bakhtiari would be inactive for Week 7. The Packers shuffled around their offensive line this morning, and a Packers rookie made his first start. The team missed their best offensive lineman as the Washington Commanders’ defensive line dominated the Packers’ offensive line. That was a significant reason why the Commanders won.
Fourth-round pick Zach Tom made his first start for the Packers at offensive tackle. Tom played well, considering he was going against one of the league’s best defensive line units. He seems like a player that will add good depth to the offensive line this year and can be a starter in the future. After the game, Tom made a statement that would make one ask what is going on in Green Bay.
Tom went to bed last night as a backup
The Packers rookie talked to the media following the game against the Commanders. According to Ryan Wood with USA Today, Tom opened up about when he found out he would start the game. His answer was honest. Tom didn’t know he would start until he got to the stadium Sunday morning. Tom also said preparing to play is something he’s always ready to do because of Bakhtiari’s health.
“You can just see it, the way (Bakhtiari) looks in practice sometimes,” Tom said, according to Wood’s Tweet. “You’ve always got to be ready… Pretty much any week with Dave, you just know that the knee, anything can happen. This was really no different than any other week.”
#Packers rookie Zach Tom said he learned about 1st career start at LT when he got to stadium this morning. That doesn't mean he went to bed Saturday with no clue he might play: "You can just see it, the way (Bakhtiari) looks in practice sometimes. You've always got to be ready."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) October 23, 2022
Zach Tom said he got first-team LT reps this week, but he added he gets first-team LT reps every week. He knows he always has to be on alert: "Pretty much any week with Dave, you just know that the knee, anything can happen. This was really no different than any other week."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) October 23, 2022
That’s short notice for the Packers rookie to get ready to make his first start. It’s also hard for the Packers coaching staff to devise a good game plan with Bakhtiari’s status up in the air the morning of game day. Head coach Matt LaFleur said everything was on the table for starting combinations on offense this week. It appears they had to decide what combination to go with at the last minute. The product on the field reflected it. According to Tom, this has been the status quo all season. And as Bakhtiari’s Week 7 inactive designation shows, Bakhtiari’s problem is not going away anytime soon.