Packers make their final decision on Christian Watson’s status ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Bengals
Watson is nine months removed from his knee injury.
The Green Bay Packers won’t have Christian Watson on Sunday. While the wide receiver had his 21-day practice window opened on Monday and participated in the team’s activities throughout the entire week, the team will be cautious. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Watson won’t be activated to the 53-man roster this week, meaning that he will miss the Cincinnati Bengals game on Sunday.
“He won’t play this week,” LaFleur said on Friday. “But he looked pretty damn good, so I’m excited for when that day comes. He’s definitely going to add an element to our offense.”
Christian Watson’s status
Watson was placed on the physically unable to perform list to start the season, which forced him to miss the first four games. After that period, the team was able to open his practice window, and now he has three weeks in which he can practice without occupying a roster spot.
Matt LaFleur said that “we’ll see” if Watson will be able to return next week against the Arizona Cardinals. Technically, the deadline for the Packers to activate the wide receiver is on Oct. 27, putting him in line to play against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 2, in Week 9.
A second-round pick in 2022, Christian Watson is entering his fourth season in the NFL. Earlier this year, he signed a one-year, $11 million extension to stay in Green Bay through 2026. The new deal gives him time to comfortably recover and get back in 2025 without the pressure of being in a contract year.
Because Jayden Reed is on injured reserve, the Packers have five wide receivers on the 53-man roster: Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, and Malik Heath. Undrafted rookies Will Sheppard, Isaiah Neyor, and Jakobie Keeney-James are on the practice squad.
Christian Watson tore his ACL on Jan. 5, in Week 18 of last regular season, when the Packers played against the Chicago Bears. When healthy, he will have missed the playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles and at least five games this season.
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