Packer Central

Packers-Steelers Wednesday Injury Report: Christian Watson Returns

Christian Watson and two other injured Green Bay Packers were back on the practice field on Wednesday.

Bill Huber

Packers-Steelers Wednesday Injury Report: Christian Watson Returns
Packers-Steelers Wednesday Injury Report: Christian Watson Returns /
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GREEN BAY, Wis. – With about 5 minutes to go in the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Christian Watson made a leaping catch for a gain of 37 yards that set up the clinching touchdown.

Watson got up, took a couple steps and collapsed to the turf. Along with chest and back injuries, Watson was being evaluated for a concussion.

On Wednesday, Watson was back on the field as full participation as the Packers began their prep for Sunday’s game at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He was “full go,” coach Matt LaFleur said.

Watson said he got the wind knocked out of him.

“It was definitely worth it," he said. "Honestly, it really didn’t hurt that much. I just couldn’t catch my breath. I got the wind knocked out of me. It was definitely worth it. It set us up to score that drive, too. Every single catch is worth it.”

Also back in action during the media viewing window:

- Defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who missed the second half of the game with a shoulder injury when he tried to “forklift” a Rams lineman. Clark said he’d be “all right,” and he was, as he participated at the start of the full-pads practice.

- Safety Rudy Ford, who was inactive vs. Los Angeles due to a calf injury sustained at practice.

- Also of note, running back Aaron Jones, whose 24 touches were more than double his previous season high of 11, practiced without the protective red jersey he wore for all three practices last week.

All three of those players were limited participation, as was left guard Elgton Jenkins.

Four players – all starters – did not practice:

- Cornerback Jaire Alexander recently missed three out of four games due to a back injury. His absence on Wednesday, however, was due to a shoulder injury. He got a “little banged up” against the Rams, LaFleur said.

Alexander, who received the game ball, was all smiles after the game.

“I just told the guys savor this moment,” he said. “Wins aren’t easy in this league and when we do win, you’ve got to enjoy it. And I said, next week, we got another challenge and we’re going to go out there and we’re going to go win again.”

- Linebacker Quay Walker, the team’s leading tackler, was inactive against the Rams with a groin injury. Isaiah McDuffie got the start; he tied for the team lead with seven tackles and led the team with two tackles for losses.

- Right guard Jon Runyan, who missed a series against the Rams with an undisclosed injury, was listed with a neck injury.

“We’re looking forward to it because you always want to go against the best,” Runyan said on Wednesday of facing the Steelers.

- Yosh Nijman, who got his first start of the year at left tackle, sustained a shoulder injury during the first half and ceded the position to Rasheed Walker, who had started the previous six games.

Nijman on Monday said his back “got twisted.” He said the injury was “nothing” but also that he was “day by day.”

It was the second consecutive game in which Nijman replaced Walker, only to be replaced by Walker due to injury.

“It’s mishaps,” he said. “I’ve been used to it all my career, though. College, here, high school, I personally feel like I’m a man made out of titanium (but) we have this human, frail body and we can’t do much about it. We’ve got medicine and a whole bunch of other stuff to take care of it, so that’s what we try to do.”

Photo by Mark Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images

Christian Watson makes a highlight-reel catch vs. the Rams.

Photo by Mike De Sisti/USA Today Sports Images

Christian Watson makes a highlight-reel catch vs. the Rams.

Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images

Christian Watson makes a highlight-reel catch vs. the Rams.

Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images

Christian Watson makes a highlight-reel catch vs. the Rams.

Photo by Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images

Christian Watson makes a highlight-reel catch vs. the Rams.

Photo by Wm. Glasheen/USA Today Sports Images

Christian Watson makes a highlight-reel catch vs. the Rams.

Packers Wednesday Injury Report

Did not participate: LB Quay Walker (groin), CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder), OT Yosh Nijman (back), RG Jon Runyan (neck).

Limited: S Rudy Ford (calf), RB Aaron Jones (hamstring), LG Elgton Jenkins (knee), DT Kenny Clark (shoulder).

Full: WR Christian Watson (back).

Steelers Wednesday Injury Report

Did not participate: DT Montravious Adams (ankle), S Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring).

Limited: DT Cam Heyward (groin), LB Elandon Roberts (knee).

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Bill Huber
BILL HUBER

Bill Huber, who has covered the Green Bay Packers since 2008, is the publisher of Packers On SI, a Sports Illustrated channel. E-mail: packwriter2002@yahoo.com History: Huber took over Packer Central in August 2019. Twitter: https://twitter.com/BillHuberNFL Background: Huber graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he played on the football team, in 1995. He worked in newspapers in Reedsburg, Wisconsin Dells and Shawano before working at The Green Bay News-Chronicle and Green Bay Press-Gazette from 1998 through 2008. With The News-Chronicle, he won several awards for his commentaries and page design. In 2008, he took over as editor of Packer Report Magazine, which was founded by Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Nitschke, and PackerReport.com. In 2019, he took over the new Sports Illustrated site Packer Central, which he has grown into one of the largest sites in the Sports Illustrated Media Group.

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