NFC Notes: David Bakhtiari, Packers, Redskins

David Bakhtiari

• Packers LT David Bakhtiari was carted off during the team’s Saturday night practice, but Ian Rapoport reports that he suffered just a sprained left ankle.
• According to Rapoport, Bakhtiari will miss some practice time, but it doesn’t sound too serious.
• By video, David Chao says that Bakhtiari likely sustained a standard low lateral sprain, but he should be fine for the regular season.

Packers

Packers RT Bryan Bulaga says he’s “very optimistic” about being ready for the start of the regular season.

“I am very optimistic about Week 1,” Bulaga said, via PackersNews.com. “I really am. It was a goal of mine, and obviously still is. I still have some work to do to get to it, but it’s definitely looking better than it did, say, four months ago. Even though I thought I’d still get to that point, it looks better because of how everything has shaped up and how I felt and how I’ve recovered.”

Bulaga added that the talk of him not being ready until the middle of the season actually fueled his rehab from a torn ACL.

“I thought I could knock this rehab out better than I did the last time,” Bulaga said. “There was a lot of chatter that I probably wouldn’t be available until the middle of the season, and that’s just a little bit of fuel. That stokes it. All of those little tidbits kind of go into it.

“So for myself personally, it was just knowing that I could really knock this rehab out, do a good job, and get back as early as possible.”

• Packers HC Mike McCarthy confirmed that WR Randall Cobb‘s injury that kept him out Saturday’s practice is the same injury he had operated on this summer. (Ryan Wood)
• Regarding his ankle injury, Cobb said he’s not overly concerned about it. “We’re just managing the soreness right now but it’s not a big (concern).” (Rob Demovsky)

Redskins

• Redskins HC Jay Gruden told reporters that keeping five running backs would “be a stretch but a possibility.” (John Keim)
• Gruden confirmed that RB Chris Thompson (leg) won’t suit up for Thursday’s preseason game against the Patriots. (John Keim)
• Gruden said that LB Shaun Dion Hamilton still isn’t 100 percent after tearing the ACL in his right knee last season, but he’s “doing a good job; smart; can handle all the calls. Very instinctive.” (John Keim)