Packers-Saints Final Injury Report: Jones, Watson, Alexander Questionable

The Green Bay Packers will host the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Three starters on offense are questionable on the final injury report.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Could the Green Bay Packers have both of their premier playmakers on the field for Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints?

Reporters only were allowed to watch Friday’s stretch inside the Don Hutson Center. Receiver Christian Watson went out with the rest of his teammates for practice. Running back Aaron Jones seemingly was on his way out, as well, but stayed inside for additional stretching. For what it’s worth, he was right by the Hutson Center door, so it would have been a quick hop, skip and a jump to join the backfield teammates.

Indeed, Jones did practice as limited participation, coach Matt LaFleur said.

Officially, both players are questionable, as are left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee), cornerback Jaire Alexander (back) and outside linebacker Lukas Van Ness (elbow). Alexander was added to the injury report on Friday and was limited participation.

Jones’ importance to the offense can’t be overstated. By the numbers:

Jones in 2 1/2 quarters: 11 touches, 127 yards, two touchdowns.

The other running backs (AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor, Emanuel Wilson) in two full games: 40 touches, 127 yards, zero touchdowns.

Jones suffered a hamstring injury at the end of his 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown during the third quarter at Chicago. With Jones inactive and with Dillon and Co. spinning their wheels, the Packers lost 25-24 at Atlanta on Sunday.

“It’d be great” if Jones could play, receiver Jayden Reed said on Thursday. “It’s always good having a guy like Aaron Jones out there. He brings a lot of great energy. He fills a lot of people’s confidence before the game. He comes up to me, he comes up to everybody in the huddle, just all positivity. It’s always good having that piece of the puzzle with the team. That would be great, having him out there on Sunday.”

Watson injured his hamstring at practice on Aug. 31. His first practice following the injury was last Friday, but he was inactive against Atlanta. This week, he practiced on Wednesday but sat out on Thursday. That was part of the plan, coach Matt LaFleur said, after Watson ran on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Packers RB Aaron Jones :: Photo by Tork Mason/USA Today Sports Images

That Watson practiced on Friday shows the plan has not taken a detour.

On Thursday, Watson said he’s “come a long way” since suffering the injury three weeks ago.

“I’m fighting just as much of a mental battle as I am a physical battle with my competitiveness and my wanting to do what I love,” Watson said. “I want to play football. I don't want to watch football. It’s definitely tough, but I’ve just got to control what I can control and do what I can.”

Even with season totals of 11 touches for Jones and zero snaps for Watson, the Packers enter Week 3 ranked second in the NFL in scoring.

The explosive potential of what this offense could achieve with Jordan Love having his full complement of weapons butts up against the reality on the offensive line.

Bakhtiari, a surprise inactive last week, and Elgton Jenkins, who suffered a knee injury early in the second quarter last week, did not practice all week.

While Jenkins won’t play, will Bakhtiari?

“We’ll see on gameday,” LaFleur said of whether Bakhtiari was improving.

How about Watson and Jones? Their practice status on Friday, how they feel on Saturday and, perhaps just as importantly, the reality of a short week leading into a Thursday night home game against the NFC North-rival Detroit Lions will all be part of the consideration for LaFleur.

Key cornerbacks popped up on the injury report for both teams with Alexander for the Packers and Paulson Adebo for the Saints. Adebo is questionable with a hamstring injury; he did not practice on Friday.

On Alexander, LaFleur said: "Just his back was acting up a little bit, so we’ll monitor that and we’ll see where he’s at."

Notably, outside linebacker Rashan Gary (knee) was not given an injury designation.

Packers Final Injury Report

Out: LG Elgton Jenkins (knee), S Zayne Anderson (hamstring).

Questionable: WR Christian Watson (hamstring), CB Jaire Alexander (back), RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), LT David Bakhtiari (knee), OLB Lukas Van Ness (elbow).

Saints Final Injury Report

Out: RB Jamaal Williams (hamstring),

Doubtful: TE Foster Moreau (ankle).

Questionable: CB Paulson Adebo (hamstring), S Ugo Amadi (knee).

More Green Bay Packers News

It's #Packers vs. Saints on Sunday at Lambeau Field. For Green Bay to win its home opener and improve to 2-1, it will have to win these three matchups, @JacobWestendorf writes.https://t.co/cMPu7MMEAB

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) September 22, 2023

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