The Green Bay Packers made it to the playoffs, but they’ll have to play the No. 2 Dallas Cowboys in AT&T Stadium to advance. The Cowboys are 8-0 at home (and 6-2 against the spread), so it won’t be easy for the Packers to do much. Questions remain about whether they’ll even have wide receiver Christian Watson this week, so let’s look at the most recent Christian Watson injury updates as we assess whether he will be playing. If you’re hungry for more action, check out our Packers-Cowboys player props, our NFL betting tools or our NFL betting promos!
Christian Watson Injury Update: Is Green Bay’s Star Playing This Week?
Christian Watson Injury Update
Watson has been dealing with a hamstring injury late this year. He hasn’t taken the field since early December, but he has managed to get back into the swing of things in practice. Watson was a limited participant in each session this week. That’s a slight upgrade from last week, when he logged limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday before failing to see the field on Friday and missing the game.
Still, it’s no sure thing that Watson comes back in time for this week. Head coach Matt LaFleur said Watson was likelier to play this week than he was last week, but added that Watson had a “legit” chance of playing. “A lot of it’s going to be on how he feels and where we’re at with him,” he told reporters.
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Watson himself acknowledged some likely limitations if he does suit up. “I don’t think I’m going to be 100 percent either way, to be honest,” he said, “Coming back from hamstrings, even when I was coming back earlier in the season, I think it was more around 90, 95 percent.”
The Packers chose not to elevate practice squad wide receiver Grant DuBose before Sunday’s game. They did before last Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, which may signal some increased confidence in Watson’s availability.
Is Christian Watson Playing for Green Bay this Week?
Update as of 4 p.m. ET: Christian Watson is confirmed to be active for Wild Card Sunday.
I suspect Christian Watson will suit up for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. He may not play his usual slate of snaps, but he should be out there with Green Bay’s season on the line. However, the books aren’t taking action on Watson’s receiving yards, but they are taking action on some of his teammates. Dontayvion Wicks (30.5), Romeo Doubs (29.5) and Jayden Reed (49.5) are all on the market at numbers that suggest little production from Watson.
While I think Watson will be active, I’m not lining up to bet on him. But the market’s confidence in Green Bay’s other receiving options is a little odd to me — Reed is averaging roughly 20 fewer receiving yards with Watson than without him. His total of 49.5 sits square in the middle of those averages.
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