Packers-Panthers Final Injury Report: Aaron Jones OK But Problems at Receiver

With Christian Watson and Jayden Reed banged up, the Green Bay Packers could be shorthanded at receiver for Sunday’s game at the Carolina Panthers.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones is off the injury report but receiver Christian Watson is doubtful and fellow receivers Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are questionable for Sunday’s game at the Carolina Panthers.

While the situation at receiver is murky – neither Watson nor Reed practiced this week – the Packers’ backfield could be at full strength. A week after being on a rep count in the loss to the Buccaneers, Jones practiced all week and will look to build upon his 17 touches for 69 yards.

“I think he looked good all week. He had no complaints,” coach Matt LaFleur said after Friday’s practice. “Hopefully, he stays that way.”

AJ Dillon, who missed last week’s game with a broken thumb, practiced all week, as well. While he is questionable, LaFleur said, “I feel good where AJ’s at.”

Longtime running backs coach Ben Sirmans couldn’t remember one of his backs playing with a broken thumb.

“I think a big part of it is just pain tolerance, he said. “Obviously, with the running back position, having both hands is pretty important, so it really comes down to see what he can do just with the injury, how much stuff he can do and see if that’ll make him viable for Sunday.”

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Reed, who has played through a variety of ailments during the second half of the season, didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to an injured toe. On Friday, while his teammates started their pre-practice stretch inside the Don Hutson Center, Reed caught passes from a JUGS machine.

He stayed inside the Hutson Center for the start of practice and, though LaFleur said Reed "was out there" for practice, he officially did not participate. That he did not practice all week was not a good sign for Sunday.

Reed leads the team with 54 receptions, 592 yards and eight total touchdowns.

“Just learning how to be a pro and taking care of my body, getting extra treatment,” Reed said. “Obviously, at this point in the season, you’ll be a lot more sore than at the beginning. I’m just trying to find a healthy balance of getting in the training room, getting my mental reps when they take care of me.”

Watson missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury and didn’t practice this week.

“The [frustration] to go through it for a second time in a season is definitely pretty high,” Watson said. “It’s a frustrating situation to miss one game let alone however many I’ve missed at this point with hamstrings. But it’s uncontrollable for me at this point, so I’ve got to control what I can control.”

On Fridays, reporters only get to watch the players get warmed up inside the Hutson Center. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (shoulder) and safety Darnell Savage (shoulder) stayed inside and are out for Sunday. So is tight end Luke Musgrave, who was designated to return from injured reserve on Thursday following last month’s kidney injury but didn’t practice this week.

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Reed, Dillon, cornerback Jaire Alexander, who missed the last six games with a shoulder injury, receiver Dontayvion Wicks, who is playing through an ankle injury, and defensive tackle TJ Slaton are among seven players who are questionable.

Will this finally be the week for Alexander?

“We’re hopeful. I’ll put it at that,” LaFleur said.

Watson and two players who were designated to return from injured reserve, running back Emanuel Wilson and offensive lineman Luke Tenuta, are doubtful.

While the Packers have 13 players on their injury report, the Panthers have only three – and none of them are key players.

Tight end Ian Thomas, who has started five games and caught four passes, and safety Sam Franklin, who has started four games and has a 99-yard pick-six, are questionable.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns, who has six sacks this week after seasons of 9.0, 9.0 and 12.5, didn’t practice at the start of the week due to illness but is off the injury report.

LaFleur got to see Burns in action when he coached the Pro Bowl a couple years ago.

“He’s a really talented guy,” LaFleur said. “You can tell he’s a pretty intelligent guy and he’s, I just think his athletic traits, the skill-set that he possesses, how hard he plays the game allows him to go out there and be extremely productive.”

Here are the injury reports.

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Packers Final Injury Report

Out: De’Vondre Campbell (neck), TE Luke Musgrave (kidney), S Darnell Savage (shoulder).

Doubtful: WR Christian Watson (hamstring), RB Emanuel Wilson (shoulder), OT Luke Tenuta (ankle).

Questionable: WR Jayden Reed (toe), WR Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), S Rudy Ford (back), CB Robert Rochell (knee), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), RB AJ Dillon (thumb), DT TJ Slaton (knee).

Panthers Final Injury Report

Quetsionable: LB Claudin Cherelus (knee), S Sam Franklin (quad), TE Ian Thomas (ankle).