For a significant portion of the season, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson found himself fielding numerous questions regarding his nagging hamstring injury. However, the tone of Friday’s inquiries took a positive turn.
Not only did Watson receive the prestigious 2023 Tom Mulhern Stand-Up Guy Award alongside Aaron Jones, recognizing their invaluable contributions to assisting Packers beat writers in covering the team, but there was also newfound hope that he would make his return to the lineup for the crucial Week 18 matchup against the Chicago Bears, where a victory would secure a playoff berth.
Following two promising practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, head coach Matt LaFleur made the decision to grant Watson a day of rest on Friday to ensure he was in optimal condition to face the Bears on Sunday.
Watson enthusiastically shared his sentiments, particularly about Thursday’s practice, stating, “Just being able to get out there, take some live reps, and run around a bit was a tremendous boost to my confidence. I would confidently say that this is my best chance at returning to action thus far. I need to ensure I take every precaution and continue to look after myself until Sunday, doing everything within my power to be ready.”
The critical question looming over the team in the 48 hours between Friday’s post-practice press conference and the submission of the list of inactive players just 90 minutes before the 3:25 p.m. Sunday kickoff was what Coach LaFleur needed to witness from Watson.
LaFleur provided insight, stating, “A significant factor is how he’s feeling. We’ll assess his condition and make a decision accordingly.”
After a frustrating start to the season, where Watson missed the first three games, he had begun to find his rhythm when the hamstring injury resurfaced during the closing stages of a crucial victory over the Chiefs. Unfortunately, this latest setback kept him sidelined for the subsequent four games.
Watson remained cautiously optimistic, sharing, “I’m feeling alright. To give myself the best opportunity to play on Sunday, it was essential to take a bit of rest today and ensure I’m doing everything to maintain my physical well-being and position myself optimally for Sunday.”
The Green Bay Packers’ passing attack could potentially regain its full firepower on Sunday if Christian Watson indeed makes his triumphant return to the lineup.
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