Will Packers’ Christian Watson Play Against Bears?

The biggest question entering Sunday’s must-win game against the Bears: Will big-play receiver Christian Watson return following a hamstring injury?

Note: The answer to the headline is no. Click the link for the inactives.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Big-play receiver Christian Watson will be back in the lineup for the Green Bay Packers for Sunday’s must-win game against the Chicago Bears, so long as his injured hamstring is feeling strong before the game.

The Packers elevated rookie Grant DuBose from the practice squad on Saturday, though that wasn’t because Watson had a setback or the coaches were leaning toward giving him another week to get ready for a potential playoff game. 

Rather, it was more for an insurance policy and general depth at the position with Watson, Jayden Reed (chest) and Dontayvion Wicks (chest) coming off injuries.

The cold – not that it was that cold out – and field conditions could work against Watson's return. Coach Matt LaFleur could roll the dice that the Packers can get through this game without a, say, 90 percent Watson to have him closer to 100 percent for a playoff game next week.

Watson practiced on Wednesday and Thursday; he spent Friday doing rehab.

“Just to be able to go out there and get some live reps and get out there and run around a little bit was definitely huge for my confidence,” Watson said on Friday. “So, I definitely would say this is my best shot at it so far. Just got to make sure I take care of myself ’til Sunday and making sure I do everything I can.”

If Watson is back on the field, how long will it take for him to be fully back as a playmaker?

Watson missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury. Once back in the lineup, it took him a while to get going. In his first six games of the season, he caught only 16-of-37 targets. Aside from a 77-yard gain against Las Vegas on a blown coverage, the other 15 receptions gained 180 yards.

However, he had found his explosive, game-changing groove before the injury with five catches for 94 yards and one touchdown at Detroit and seven receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City.

Not unrelated, the Packers scored two of their biggest wins of the season in those games.

Can Watson pick up from that spot – or at least close to it?

“Yeah, we have to,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “Obviously, with this being the possibility of having the last game of the season, we can’t have any lulls with that. We’ve got to be able to pick up right where we left off. I’m fully expecting that to happen.”

With Samori Toure placed on injured reserve this week, the Packers hope to have Watson, Reed and Wicks available to join Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath and Bo Melton for this must-win game. If Watson isn’t feeling quite right and the team is concerned about the field, which was covered for Saturday’s snow and could be a bit slick once the tarp comes off, DuBose would be the next man up.

For DuBose, a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft who was beaten out for the final spot at receiver by the undrafted Heath, this marked his first elevation of the season.

Watson isn’t the only player coming off a long, injury-related layoff. Rookie tight end Luke Musgrave was activated from injured reserve after missing six games with a lacerated kidney.

Musgrave averaged 44.3 snaps in his first 10 games. He will not reclaim that heavy workload in his first game back. Rather, fellow rookie tight end Tucker Kraft will get the bulk of the work. In his six games as the primary tight end, Kraft has caught 23 passes and scored two touchdowns.

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