“The ankle was three games. This one’s been four — so far. And I mean, who knows how much longer?” Bakhtiari said. “I always thought when I was a rookie, ‘They’re going to do anything to get rid of me. So I want to make sure no one can step in.’ Now, it’s, ‘We’ve invested in you, you’re one of our guys, just get healthy and get back out there.’ Now that’s the mindset. In the training room, we’ve had a lot of talks, and they’ve definitely helped me become more patient.

“The biggest thing is to, when I go back out there, to stay out there. And make sure that I add to the team and don’t hinder us at all. … The best quote that was told me was, ‘You’ve got a long career. Don’t let the short term affect long term.’ ”

In the short term, if Bakhtiari can’t go, at least the Packers could start the same five on the line for the second straight week. Through five games, they have started five combinations; if Bakhtiari doesn’t play, it figures to be Taylor at left tackle, Justin McCray at left guard, Corey Linsley at center, Jahri Evans at right guard and Bryan Bulaga, who returned to action last week, at right tackle.

Taylor would likely see a lot of Griffen, who has six sacks in the Vikings’ first five games.