Green Bay Packers vast receiver Christian Watson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his proper knee and won’t be obtainable for any a part of the postseason.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the severity of Watson’s harm Monday, a day after the 2022 second-round decide from North Dakota State was carried to the locker room within the second quarter of a 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears.
The harm leaves Green Bay with out its deepest menace because the Packers (11-6) journey to face the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) in Sunday’s wild-card spherical.
Watson has made 29 receptions for 620 yards and two touchdowns this season.
“I really feel unhealthy for him,” LaFleur stated. “Obviously I damage for our staff, however particularly for him as a result of I understand how a lot he put into this factor, identical to all of our guys. You by no means wish to see that.”
LaFleur additionally stated he wasn’t positive whether or not quarterbacks Jordan Love and Malik Willis would face limitations in apply this week.
Love left the Bears recreation with what the staff described as an elbow harm, and later stated he had misplaced feeling in his throwing hand however was anticipated to be superb for the Eagles recreation. Love famous that he made some warmup passes late within the recreation when Willis was coping with a hand situation.
“I talked to each guys,” LaFleur stated. “They appear to be superb, however so far as their limitations, I believe they will be superb, however we’ll discover out within the subsequent couple of days.”
Watson, 25, was working a play when he went down with a non-contact harm and started clutching his proper knee. Watson had missed the Packers’ 27-25 loss at Minnesota every week earlier with a left knee harm, however practiced on a restricted foundation Friday.
LaFleur stated Watson requested him Friday to play towards the Bears so long as he might apply that day. LaFleur acknowledged that there was “numerous dialogue” about whether or not to play him and that the Packers had deliberate to present him solely restricted snaps.
The Packers had been coping with deep receiver points as a result of Romeo Doubs was out with an sickness. LaFleur stated Monday that Doubs is now feeling higher.
Injuries have hampered Watson for a lot of his three-year professional profession, although he has primarily handled hamstring points previously.
After showing in simply 9 video games in 2023, Watson has labored to strengthen his hamstring and has appeared in a career-high 15 video games this season.
Now he has to cope with his most severe harm.
“I do know he’ll assault the best method,” LaFleur stated. “He’ll deal with adversity. It’ll simply be a bump within the street for him. I believe he’ll come again higher. That’s simply how he is constructed. That’s how he is wired.”
Associated Press reporting.
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