After practice today, Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson stated, “It’s my goal and plan to play this week,” per Packers.com’s Weston Hodkiewicz. Watson is coming off his late 2024 season ACL injury,
which landed him on the physically unable to play list to start the 2025 season. Currently, Watson is playing through his 21-day practice window, which by the end of the Packers must decide whether to activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve. On Wednesday, Watson was listed as a limited participant in practice.
The return of Watson probably couldn’t have come at a better time, considering that Dontayvion Wicks (calf) has dropped out of the last two games with injuries. Wicks was a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice, which means that there’s a real chance that he won’t be suiting up for the team against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Without Wicks or Jayden Reed, who is currently on the injured reserve as he recovers from foot surgery and a broken collarbone, the room is pretty thin. Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden have held down the position recently, with Golden mostly playing a slot role, but the injury of Wicks forced Malik Heath, who was on the roster bubble just two months ago, into a heavy rotation at receiver. For the most part, rookie third-round pick Savion Williams has been playing a gadget role on offense to go along with his kick returns this season.
So if Watson does play this week, the Packers can’t really afford him to be on a pitch count, as Heath has 268 career receiving yards in three NFL seasons, and Williams is already sort of being played in a limited role.
Hopefully, the speed that Watson and Golden bring to the field can make the Steelers’ man coverage-heavy defense pay for being aggressive.
For Watson to be added to the gameday roster, though, the Packers will need to make a corresponding roster move to get Watson on the 53-man active roster. At some point, they’re going to have to release a player this week.
