The Green Bay Packers will be without top wide receiver Christian Watson for Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. Coach Matt LaFleur ruled out Watson, who missed the entire week of practice because of a hamstring injury, on Friday.
Receiver Romeo Doubs, who is also dealing with a hamstring injury, is going to be listed as questionable on the final injury report, per LaFleur, but he practiced on both Thursday and Friday and could play Sunday.
Watson is the Packers’ No. 1 receiver and the offense’s top playmaker in the passing game. Without him, the Packers will have to lean more on second-year receiver Samori Toure and rookies Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Malik Heath in Week 1. The team may also elevate Bo Melton or Grant DuBose from the practice squad to add depth, especially considering Doubs’ injury situation.
LaFleur said Watson will likely be “week to week” while he recovers from the hamstring injury. He also said not having Watson won’t “drastically” alter the plan, but it’s a “curveball” the Packers had to deal with while preparing for the Bears.
In 2022, the Packers were 1-4 in games Watson either didn’t play or was on the field for less than 25 percent of offensive snaps. The Packers averaged 14.2 points per game in the four losses.
Despite a slow start created by injuries, Watson caught 41 passes for 611 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie last season. He hauled in three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown and had the game-sealing 46-yard touchdown run during the Packers’ win over the Bears at Soldier Field last December.