Just as the Green Bay Packers were finding their groove on offense through the air, another injury was suffered to a skill position player. With running back Aaron Jones dealing with an MCL sprain, the team could again be without wide receiver Christian Watson.
In Week 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, Watson came up lame on an end-around late in the fourth quarter. He went to the sidelines with what was deemed a hamstring injury, which is cause for concern.
Watson has dealt with numerous hamstring injuries since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He began the 2023 season on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury, costing him the first three games of the season.
The North Dakota State product has been able to play in all nine games since but is now in jeopardy of being sidelined again. However, there could be a silver lining this time around, as he doesn’t believe the strain is as bad this time around.
“I don’t think it is as severe,” Watson said after practice on Thursday, his first time addressing the injury ahead of Monday night’s Week 14 matchup against the Giants. “That’s what I know, I don’t think it is as severe as the last one.”
Despite Waton’s optimistic outlook, he sat out of practice. He is being listed as questionable for the team’s game on Monday Night against the New York Giants and it seems like a longshot that he will be able to get on the field.
It is unfortunate timing as Watson was playing his best football of the season recently. He had caught a touchdown in three straight games, scoring a total of four times and was providing the Packers with the downfield, big-play presence their offense missed earlier in the season.
Should Watson not be able to suit up, expect Dontayvion Wicks to step into the lineup for him. Romeo Doubs would become the team’s de-facto No. 1 receiver on the perimeter and undrafted rookie Malik Heath could see a few more targets as well.
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