The Green Bay Packers already are going to be without one of their starters due to injury as a result of plays from their Week Seven loss to the Denver Broncos. Darnell Savage, who exited the game in the second quarter, reaggravated his calf injury and could be placed on injured reserve.
Several other Packers starters, including Eric Stokes and Christian Watson, also suffered injuries during the game. While there has been no update on Stokes (who was playing in his first game in almost a year), Watson did provide ESPN’s Rob Demovsky with an update, and it sounds very promising.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Christian Watson Expects to Play in Week Eight vs the Minnesota Vikings
Watson was injured late in the game when a Jordan Love pass was thrown a bit low and behind him. As Watson attempted to catch the pass, his knee seem to buckle as his foot stuck to the natural grass field. He was able to get off the field on his own, but went down on the sideline after.
Initial concerns feared a torn ACL, MCL, or other significant knee injury. However, Watson told Demovsky that he avoided serious injury and is hoping to get back on the field when the Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field this weekend:
“I’m just trying to get the initial pain and stuff out of there, and I think I’ll be good to go.”
Watson has already missed three games this year because of a hamstring injury he suffered during the last week of training camp.
The Green Bay Packers Need Christian Watson/Need to Get Him Involved
Needless to say, the last few weeks have not been fun for Packers fans. Green Bay has now lost three games in a row, and all but one of their losses have come by one score. As frustrating and inconsistent as the offense has been, it is has also been close to winning them three more games.
The Packers went through a similar run like this last season, too. Aaron Rodgers, broken thumb and all, had not spent time to build chemistry with his new wide receivers and often ignored the rookies in the passing game.
And then Week 10 arrived. Between Weeks 10-13, Watson received four times as many targets as he had in Weeks One through Nine. Watson scored eight total touchdowns in those games and the Packers went 2-2. Realistically, they could have gone 3-1, but the defense gave up 40 points to the eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
After Week 13, Watson was targeted no less than five times per game. Defenses had to respect what he could do, and while his receiving touchdowns did not come in those final weeks of the season, the Packers ended the season by winning four of their last five games.
In their horrible loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 18, Watson was one of the lone bright spots on offense, hauling in five catches for 104 yards.
So far this season, Watson has just eight receptions (on 16 targets) for 143 yards and a touchdown. The simple fact of the matter is that the offense runs so much better if Watson is able to get the ball in the open field.
Forget about the deep ball 30 yards downfield; Watson can do so much damage if he gets the ball seven or more yards down on a slant and allowed to run. Remember, he also scored two rushing touchdowns last season. Green Bay has to find a way to get him more involved.
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