He’ll need to get through a pre-game workout, but Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson could make his long-awaited return from injury on Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Watson has missed five straight games with a hamstring injury, but there is “some optimism” that he can play Sunday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Packers will put him through a workout to determine if the hamstring is strong enough for Watson to go against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Watson practiced in a limited capacity all three days this week and was listed as questionable.
“We’ll see on Christian. A lot of it is going to be on how he feels, and where we’re at with him,” coach Matt LaFleur said Friday.
Watson returned to practice last week but sat out the Packers’ playoff-clinching win over the Chicago Bears after his hamstring didn’t respond well enough to two days of practice. This week, Watson got through two days and then practiced again Friday, and LaFleur confirmed his second-year receiver was further along in his injury recovery.
Inactives will be announced around 1:55 p.m. CT on Sunday. Kickoff is at 3:25 p.m.
The Packers are otherwise good to go at receiver. Neither Romeo Doubs nor Jayden Reed has a playing status designation for Sunday and will play vs. the Cowboys. Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton and Malik Heath are also available at the position.
Could Watson provide a spark in a big game?
Watson had a touchdown catch in three straight games before suffering his latest hamstring injury, including a pair of scores in an upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and he caught three touchdown passes in a breakout performance against the Cowboys last season at Lambeau Field.
In his last game on turf, Watson caught a 53-yard pass to open the game and a big touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of a win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
