Yosh Nijman a late addition to Packers injury report; what does it mean for David Bakhtiari?

With the Green Bay Packers set to take on the New England Patriots in less than 24 hours, left tackle Yosh Nijman was a late addition to the injury report with an illness. He is now questionable for Sunday’s game.

In 93 pass-blocking snaps this season, 156 in total, Nijman has allowed four pressures and no sacks, according to PFF ($$).

What does Yosh Nijman’s status mean for David Bakhtiari and the Packers offensive line?

Last week with the return of David Bakhtiari, we saw him and Nijman rotating series against Tampa Bay. Bakhtiari was on the field for 35 snaps and Nijman 27. Both held up very well against a stout Bucs’ pass rush, with each allowing just one pressure.

Unlike last week when Bakhtiari was listed as questionable prior to kickoff, he did not have an injury designation this time around–a terrific sign that there were no further issues with his knee.

However, even with that being the case, we still didn’t know if the Packers were planning on rotating Bakhtiari and Nijman once again. And now, with Nijman’s availability in question, does that mean Bakhtiari will take all of the left tackle snaps by default?

It would sure seem that way.

In terms of continuing that rotation, the only other viable left tackle option is Elgton Jenkins, but in order to pull that off, it would require Royce Newman moving to right tackle and Jake Hanson coming in at right guard–or at least that being the case when Jenkins is at left tackle. Rookie Zach Tom could also be in the mix for either spot on the right side as well.

For starters, the combination of Newman and Hanson on the right side didn’t fare very well in Week 1. On top of that, continuity along the offensive line is a very important element, and in order to pull the above scenario off, it would require a lot of movement — unless Tom lines up at left tackle with Bakhtiari, where he has had minimal to no snaps since coming to Green Bay — and that just doesn’t seem feasible.

Regardless of the opponent, the catalyst behind the Packers’ path to success on offense begins with Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, and the run game.

Green Bay’s offensive tackles will also once again be going up against some very good edge rushers this week, facing Matthew Judon and Deatrich Wise of the Patriots, who combined have seven sacks and both sit in the top-30 among edge rushers in terms of pressures generated.

In addition to Nijman being listed as questionable, Jaire Alexander is as well with a groin injury, and Caleb Jones is out with an illness.