Packers-Saints Inactves: What’s Status of Watson, Jones, Alexander, Bakhtiari?

With several key players battling injuries, all eyes on Sunday morning were on the Green Bay Packers’ inactives list before Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers will be down five starters for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

Running back Aaron Jones, receiver Christian Watson, cornerback Jaire Alexander, left tackle David Bakhtiari and left guard Elgton Jenkins are among the team’s inactives. Jones (hamstring), Watson (hamstring), Alexander (back) and Bakhtiari (knee) were questionable on Friday’s injury report.

With Green Bay going without five of its top players, the line swung from Packers by 1.5 to Saints by 1.5 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Jones went through an extensive on-field workout before the game, including 40-yard sprints, catching passes and taking some handoffs. As it turns out, that workout may only have been his typical rehab work.

In a pre-emptive move, the Packers elevated running back Patrick Taylor to the gameday roster on Saturday.

Jones entered the day with as many total yards on 11 touches as AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson and Taylor on 40 touches. Taylor has the longest run by a running back, a 10-yarder vs. Chicago.

Watson also came out early but didn’t go nearly as hard as Jones. He practiced on Wednesday, didn’t practice on Thursday and practiced again on Friday. That was the plan all along, coach Matt LaFleur said. Nonetheless, for a third consecutive game, the Packers’ passing game will run through Romeo Doubs and rookies Jayden Reed, Luke Musgrave and Dontayvion Wicks.

Alexander popped up on the injury report on Friday with a back injury. How he felt on Sunday morning would be key, a source said early in the day. As a pre-emptive move, the Packers elevated Corey Ballentine to the gameday roster on Saturday. 

Rasul Douglas, rookie Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon were the only other corners on the roster. They will face a major challenge against the deep-ball passing game led by Derek Carr and Chris Olave.

The wild card in all the decisions was the schedule. Sunday’s game against the Saints – a fellow playoff contender in the NFC – is important. Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Lions, an NFC North rival, is more important because of the division ramifications.

“They’re all important,” LaFleur said on Friday. “I think if guys are healthy enough to go, they’re going to go. If they’re not, then hopefully we can get them back for Thursday. You never want to put the importance of one game or looking too far ahead. We’re going to have our hands full with a very good football team that’s 2-0 and we need everyone that can go at their best.”

Rasheed Walker figures to start for a second consecutive week at left tackle. Bakhtiari’s knee flared up at Atlanta last week. With the quick turnaround to get ready for Thursday night’s game against the Lions, the Packers might have opted to save Bakhtiari for the division game under the thought that he’d be able to go just once in five days.

Safeties Anthony Johnson and Zayne Anderson round out the inactives.

Alexander isn't the only inactive starting cornerback. New Orleans will be without Paulson Adebo due to a hamstring injury.

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