The Packers have ruled out five players going into Sunday’s action
Yesterday, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that receiver Christian Watson, who missed last week’s game with knee bruising, would need to be on the field on Friday to have a chance to play against the Chicago Bears. Watson did participate in practice for the first time this week on Friday and the Packers listed him as questionable for the game against Chicago.
If Watson is able to play, it will be interesting to see if he’s the team’s man coverage answer this weekend. Against the Minnesota Vikings, the Packers struggled mightily against man coverage, a coverage where Watson is Green Bay’s primary weapon. Now that the Packers’ offense put that last game on film, teams will almost certainly try to replicate the Vikings’ man coverage success against them. Keep an eye out for Watson’s status on Sunday and the early-game coverages that the Bears play, as those factors could decide whether or not Green Bay has to go on the road to play the second seed in the first round of the postseason.
Along with Watson, defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. (foot) was listed as questionable by the team. The Packers who have been officially ruled out of the game are cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), linebacker Quay Walker (ankle), safety Evan Williams (quad), safety Zayne Anderson (concussion) and tackle Andre Dillard (concussion). Being down five to seven players on the active roster will make it tough for Green Bay, a team known for pulling their starters at halftime in the final week of the season under LaFleur, to sit many players — even if they want to.
Because of the injuries in the secondary, you can expect a lineup of Keisean Nixon in the slot, Carrington Valentine and Eric Stokes at outside cornerback and Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard at safety on Sunday in nickel sets. Eric Wilson is expected to make another middle linebacker start in place for Walker.
Players who were given injury statuses for this week of practice but have been cleared for action include running back Chris Brooks (ankle), safety Javon Bullard (ankle), running back Josh Jacobs (wrist) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (concussion).
On the Bears’ side of the injury report, defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle/foot), running back Travis Homer (hamstring) and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins (calf) will be out. First-round rookie receiver Rome Odunze (illness) returned to practice on Friday after being a non-participant on both Wednesday and Thursday.