Christian Watson won’t have a chance to make amends for last year’s season-opening drop against Minnesota. The Green Bay Packers’ dynamic receiver has been officially ruled out for Sunday’s Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears, as confirmed by coach Matt LaFleur’s announcement following Friday’s practice. While Watson participated in the initial warm-up, he did not join his teammates on the field for the final practice of the week.
Romeo Doubs, another veteran receiver on the team, is listed as questionable for the game. Doubs has practiced for two consecutive days, but the key questions revolve around whether he will play, how effective he can be if he does, and how many snaps he’ll take. These are considerations that LaFleur will need to weigh as Sunday’s 3:25 p.m. kickoff approaches.
Doubs expressed optimism on both Thursday and Friday, stating, “It was another good day. We’re 48 hours away. We just need to keep building up and see where we’re at. So far, so good.”
If the current trends persist, the Packers will field a lineup against the Bears that includes Doubs, second-year receiver Samori Toure, and rookies Jayden Reed, Malik Heath, and Dontayvion Wicks as their five receivers. They also have the option to promote first-year player Bo Melton or rookie Grant DuBose from the practice squad.
None of these players possess the game-breaking potential of Watson. In a late-season victory against Chicago last year, Watson’s 46-yard touchdown run proved decisive. At that point, he had scored seven touchdowns in just four games. In contrast, Doubs managed three touchdowns, and Toure had one touchdown throughout the entire year.
Last year, the Packers had a 1-2 record when Watson was unavailable due to a hamstring injury. LaFleur acknowledged that Watson’s injury history would be taken into account for his return timeline. However, he also emphasized Watson’s track record of quick recovery, suggesting it’s more of a week-to-week concern than a long-term issue.
In a separate development, left tackle David Bakhtiari will start the game without having taken a single practice snap. Bakhtiari did not participate in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, he remained by the exercise bikes in the Don Hutson Center while the rest of the team began practice.
“Practice is important,” Bakhtiari mentioned on Thursday. “But not everyone needs practice. That’s about as straightforward as I can put it.”
It’s worth noting that Bakhtiari, now in his tenth year, has a wealth of experience and what coaches and players refer to as “banked reps” to rely on. Offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich explained that there’s a lot that goes on behind closed doors with walk-throughs and other activities in their facility, which Bakhtiari diligently utilizes for preparation.
“While practice is valuable, and you always want your players out there, you want them playing together,” Stenavich said on Thursday. “I think that’s a factor, but as the season progresses and he’s out there every week, I believe that will build. He and Elgton (Jenkins) have played together.”
In Short
The upcoming clash between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears promises to be a riveting start to the NFL season. With Christian Watson ruled out, the Packers face questions about their receiving corps, while the status of Romeo Doubs adds an element of uncertainty. Additionally, the intriguing decision to start David Bakhtiari without practice raises eyebrows. As football enthusiasts eagerly await Sunday’s kickoff, we’ll be here to provide real-time coverage and analysis of this exciting matchup. Stay tuned for all the action, updates, and insights as the NFL season gets underway.
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