We still don't know if Christian Watson will play vs. Lions
Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson got people excited Tuesday when both players provided some big injury updates. Doubs said the Green Bay Packers are "getting 3-3 back" on Thursday against the Detroit Lions (that's Aaron Jones), while Watson said the plan is for him to play, as well. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur pulled the […]
Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson got people excited Tuesday when both players provided some big injury updates.
Doubs said the Green Bay Packers are "getting 3-3 back" on Thursday against the Detroit Lions (that's Aaron Jones), while Watson said the plan is for him to play, as well.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur pulled the reigns back a bit after Watson spoke to the media, however, and based off what he said, it sounds like the second-year wideout's status is still up-in-the-air.
"I like his mindset for it, but until we get cleared medically then, I mean, it's gotta go through the process before anything's for certain," LaFleur told reporters. "But we'd love to have him out there and if he gets cleared then he'll be able to go."
LaFleur could just be doing damage control and trying to keep whatever competitive advantage on the side of the Packers as they head into their biggest matchup of the young season.
Regardless, there's no question that Watson's return would provide a huge boost to a Packers offense that is young but finding its way. Watson just brings a completely different skill set to the table and the Packers know how to use him in effective ways that can change the course of a game.
"I think he brings more than just that," LaFleur said when asked about Watson's ability to create explosive plays. "He's a guy that brings a sense of calm out there, as well, because you can put him in any spot. If somebody needs a breather, you can throw him in any spot and you can go in there and execute and I think he just, he helps everybody else out there, as well. He's so smart. He knows what to do. If there's any indecision whether it's another receiver -shoot probably even the tight end or whoever- he can help Jordan out in that process and making sure that we get our guys on the same page and the communication is really strong. So that gives us an opportunity to go out there and execute."
To have that, against a division rival that was favored to win the division coming into the season, would undoubtedly help. Especially on a short week where everyone is cramming in as much as they can.
But, now, when it comes to Jones – LaFleur sang a bit of a different tune.
"We'll see tomorrow – we'll see how he's feeling tomorrow. But you know, I'd say [we're] cautiously optimistic."
It may be frustrating, but LaFleur's logic in playing it slow makes sense, ultimately. Sure, this is a big game – but the Packers still have 13 more games to play after Thursday night. And, they'll have 10 days of rest before their Monday night matchup against the Raiders and then after that, they'll go on their bye week – so they'll get even more time to rest players.
Two games in essentially 25 days is what the Packers face over these next few weeks. That's totally worth the strategy of keeping players out if they're not quite ready to go on Thursday.
"I don't want to sacrifice one game for a longer period of time. I don't think anybody does," LaFleur said of Jones. "And so until he's cleared, like I said, certainly we all want him out there. We know how valuable he is to our football team. And just in so many aspects, whether he's got the ball or not, but we want to make sure that he's he's able to protect himself and not going to be for the risk for injury."
