GREEN BAY – After playing 27 snaps in the Green Bay Packers’ regular-season finale at Detroit, left tackle David Bakhtiari will not play Saturday night in the NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Bakhtiari is among five inactive players as the Packers return to the field for the first time in two weeks, making it the second time this season the two-time All-Pro will not play against 49ers. Yosh Nijman started at left tackle when the Packers played at San Francisco in Week 3 and held his own against 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, except for a couple snaps early in that game.
Nijman started eight games at left tackle during the regular season, and his play improved as the year progressed. He’ll have to contend with Bosa again Saturday after the defensive end was cleared from concussion protocol in time to play.
The Packers’ banged-up roster got plenty of good news. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder), outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith (back), outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (biceps), right tackle Billy Turner (knee) and center Josh Myers (knee) are all active after missing several weeks apiece with injuries. Myers returned to play 32 snaps two weeks ago in Detroit.
Inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (elbow), fresh off his first-team All-Pro selection, and running back Aaron Jones (knee), also return Saturday after missing the game in Detroit with injuries.
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Other than Bakhtiari, receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the only other significant contributor inactive. Outside linebacker Johnathan Garvin, safety Vernon Scott and safety Shawn Davis are also healthy inactives.
The 49ers will be without starting cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee) in an already-thin secondary.
