Watson: Practicing ‘Was Huge for My Confidence’

For a big chunk of the season – too much of the season – Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson thoughtfully answered questions about his injured hamstring.

Friday’s questions were different. First, he and Aaron Jones were presented with the 2023 Tom Mulhern Stand-Up Guy Award for the players who best helped Packers beat writers cover the team. Beyond that, there’s optimism that Watson will return to the lineup for Sunday’s win-and-in Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears.

After two encouraging days of work on Wednesday and Thursday, coach Matt LaFleur gave Watson Friday off to help him get ready to face the Bears.

“Just to be able to go out there and get some live reps and get out there and run around a little bit was definitely just huge for my confidence,” Watson said, talking specifically about Thursday’s practice. “I definitely would say this is my best shot at it so far. Just got to make sure I take care of myself til Sunday and making sure I do everything I can.”

What did LaFleur need to see during the 48 hours between Friday’s post-practice news conference and turning in his inactives list 90 minutes before Sunday’s 3:25 p.m. kickoff?

“I think a lot of it’s just how he’s feeling, you know? We’ll test him out and see where he’s at,” LaFleur said.

After missing the first three games of the season, Watson was just starting to get rolling when he injured the hamstring again during the closing moments of a big victory over the Chiefs.

The latest injury held him out of the last four games.

“I’m feeling all right,” Watson said. So, to give me the best chance to go on Sunday was to rest a little bit today and make sure that I do everything to take care of my body and put myself in the best position to hopefully play on Sunday.”

The Packers’ passing attack could be at full strength on Sunday.

Receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who was inactive last week, was full participation at practice the last two days. Receiver Jayden Reed, who missed the second half last week after being inactive the week before, was limited participation all week. So was tight end Luke Musgrave in his comeback from a lacerated kidney.

Like Watson, all three are questionable.

As good as those players have been, it’s Watson who could be a real X-factor. In last year’s do-or-die Week 18 loss to Detroit, he was arguably the best player on the field with five receptions for 104 yards. This year, he scored one touchdown against the Chargers, one touchdown against the Lions and two touchdowns against the Chiefs during an impressive midseason sweep.

“This is our last regular-season game, so we’ve got to try to put it together and let it be our best regular-season game,” Watson said. “I think we’ve shown really good flashes throughout this season.

“We’ve just got to put everything together. Obviously, there’s a lot of stake, but we’ve got to be the best versions of ourselves – not just because it’s our chance to get into the playoffs but we want to finish the regular season off right.”