Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on Tuesday that he wasn’t sure if wide receiver Christian Watson will be able to play against the Bears on Sunday and Wednesday brought some good news about the wideout’s condition.
LaFleur told reporters that Watson is expected to take part in practice on a limited basis. Watson is listed with chest and shoulder injuries that he suffered while trying to catch a pass in the third quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
LaFleur said that defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (foot) and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) are also due back on the field.
The Packers will issue their injury designations for Saturdays game after practice on Thursday.
The Bears have received a weekly award after last Sunday’s 31-3 victory over the Browns.
Linebacker D’Marco Jackson has been named NFC defensive player of the week.
Jackson finished with seven tackles, two passes defensed, a sack, and an interception in Chicago’s 10th victory of the year. So far, he is the only player in the conference to have at least seven tackles, two passes defensed, a sack, and an interception in a single game this season.
This is Jackson’s first defensive player of the week award.
In 13 games this season, Jackson has posted 41 total tackles and three passes defensed.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said in his Tuesday press conference that the team would have a significant number of players on their injury report later in the day and that proved to be correct.
Nine players were estimated to be non-participants. That number includes edge rusher Micah Parsons, who is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Running back Josh Jacobs (knee) was listed as out with an injury he’s been dealing with for several weeks. Jacobs was questionable to play in Week 15, but scored two touchdowns in the loss to the Broncos.
Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness (foot), wide receiver Christian Watson (chest, shoulder), right tackle Zach Tom (knee), safety Evan Williams (knee), running back MarShawn Lloyd (calf, hamstring), and tight end Josh Whyle (concussion) were also listed as out. LaFleur said the team will make decisions on Watson, Tom and Williams closer to Saturday’s game against the Bears.
Running back Chris Brooks (chest), offensive lineman Darian Kinnard (neck), defensive lineman Colin Oliver (hamstring), and wide receiver Savion Williams (foot) were listed as limited participants. Defensive lineman Brenton Cox (groin), wide receiver Matthew Golden (wrist), and quarterback Jordan Love (left shoulder) were listed as full participants.
The Bears listed two of their top wideouts as non-participants on Tuesday’s estimated practice report.
Luther Burden (ankle) and Rome Odunze (foot) would not have practiced. Burden was injured in last Sunday’s win over the Browns while Odunze aggravated an injury in pregame warmups.
Burden had a season-high six catches before his injury. The rookie has 36 catches for 479 yards and a touchdown on the season. Odunze has now missed the last two games, but still leads the team with 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns this year.
Defensive lineman Andrew Billings (illness) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (hamstring) were also listed as out. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (groin), running back Travis Homer (ankle), and tight end Cole Kmet (ankle, knee) were listed as limited. Quarterback Tyson Bagent (illness) was listed as a full participant.
The Packers know they won’t have edge rusher Micah Parsons in Chicago on Saturday night and they have several other injured players to monitor heading into their divisional clash with the Bears.
Wide receiver Christian Watson is on that list. Watson left last Sunday’s loss to the Broncos with a chest injury and went to the hospital for evaluation before traveling home with the team. On Tuesday, head coach Matt LaFleur said he’s “not quite sure” about Watson’s status and will give him as much time as possible before determining if he’ll play this week.
“The pain’s a big part of it, but functionality — he’s gotta prove that throughout the course of the week,” LaFleur said.
Right tackle Zach Tom and safety Evan Williams both suffered knee injuries against the Broncos and LaFleur said “every one of these guys is going to be fighting to make it by game time.”
