Christian Watson's injury will test the Packers' wide receiver depth at the most important moment
Part of the Green Bay Packers’ decision to have Christian Watson active on Sunday against the Chicago Bears was that Romeo Doubs couldn’t play, and the team would otherwise have only four active players at the position. It was costly and unfortunate. Watson suffered a serious knee injury, and now the situation is even dicier. […]
Part of the Green Bay Packers’ decision to have Christian Watson active on Sunday against the Chicago Bears was that Romeo Doubs couldn’t play, and the team would otherwise have only four active players at the position.
It was costly and unfortunate. Watson suffered a serious knee injury, and now the situation is even dicier. Romeo Doubs is expected to play against the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild card round, but Christian Watson is out for the playoffs — and maybe longer — with an ACL injury.
Without Watson, the wide receiver depth will be tested. First, because he offers a unique skillset that can’t be replicated with the weapons the Packers have. Second, just because of the numbers.
The active roster has Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath, and Bo Melton. There are options on the practice squad, with converted quarterback Alex McGough and rookies Julian Hicks and Cornelius Johnson. It's difficult, however, to foresee a big impact from any of them at this point.
“it's next man up. Other guys will have to step up,” quarterback Jordan Love said on Sunday. “We have a deep receiver room. It's good to see guys step up, Malik (Heath) have that big-time catch right there at the end. That's what's supposed to be, guys gotta make plays.”
Against the Bears, Heath had three receptions for 53 yards, Wicks had five for 49, Reed had two for 48. It's not exactly a stellar outcome, but more than enough considering the circumstances of the game — backup quarterback Malik Willis played most of it.
“Malik Heath came through and made some big catches, Jayden Reed made some big catches,” head coach Matt LaFleur mentioned. “All these guys competed, and that's why it's just so disappointing, because I felt like our guys went there and they played hard.”
Last year, Romeo Doubs had a monster playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, with six receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, the group will have to find a way to produce at a similar level, even if the most explosive piece of it is now out of the equation.
Matt LaFleur shares an honest update after Christian Watson left the game early with knee injury
Wide receiver was carted off the field
