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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Huge-play receiver Christian Watson will likely be again within the Inexperienced Bay Packers lineup for Sunday's must-win sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears if his injured hamstring is powerful earlier than the sport.
The Packers promoted rookie Grant DuBose from the follow squad on Saturday, although it wasn't as a result of Watson had a setback or as a result of the coaches had been leaning towards giving him one other week to organize for a possible playoff sport.
Fairly, it was due to the protection and general depth on the place that Watson, Jayden Reed (chest) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest) had been all misplaced to damage.
The chilly — not that it was that chilly exterior — and discipline circumstances might have labored in opposition to Watson's return. Coach Matt LaFleur might roll the cube on which Packers can get by means of this sport with out, say, 90 % Watson to get nearer to 100% subsequent week for a playoff sport.
Watson practiced on Wednesdays and Thursdays; he spent Friday in rehab.
“Simply having the ability to go on the market and get some dwell reps and get on the market and run round just a little bit was positively big for my confidence,” Watson stated Friday. “So I might positively say that is my finest effort but. I simply have to ensure I handle myself till Sunday and do all the pieces I can.”
If Watson does return to the sphere, how lengthy will it take for him to totally return as a playmaker?
Watson missed the primary three video games of the season with a hamstring damage. As soon as again within the lineup, it took him some time to get going. He caught simply 16 of 37 targets in his first six video games of the season. Along with the 77-yard acquire in opposition to Las Vegas on go protection, he had 15 extra receptions for 180 yards.
Nonetheless, earlier than the damage, he discovered his explosive, game-changing groove with 5 catches for 94 yards and one landing in Detroit and 7 receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.
Not unrelated, the Packers posted two of their largest wins of the season in these video games.
Can Watson rise from that spot – or a minimum of come shut?
“Yeah, we now have to,” quarterback Jordan Love stated. “Clearly, with this being the final sport of the season to play, we are able to't take any breaks with it. We should be capable to choose up the place we left off. I totally count on that to occur.”
With Samori Toure positioned on injured reserve this week, the Packers hope to have Watson, Reed and Wicks out there to hitch Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and Bo Melton on this must-win sport. If Watson isn't feeling fairly proper and the staff is fearful concerning the discipline, which was coated in snow Saturday and may very well be just a little slippery as soon as the tarp comes off, DuBose would be the subsequent man up.
For DuBose, a seventh-round choose on this 12 months's draft who was overwhelmed out for the ultimate receiver spot by the undrafted Heath, it marked his first promotion of the season.
Watson isn't the one participant to undergo a protracted layoff as a result of damage. Rookie tight finish Luke Musgrave was activated from injured reserve after lacking six video games with a lacerated kidney.
Musgrave averaged 44.3 snaps by means of the primary 10 video games. He doesn't get that heavy workload again in his first sport. Fellow rookie Tucker Kraft is extra more likely to get the majority of the work. In his six video games as the first tight finish, Kraft caught 23 passes and scored two touchdowns.
