OCTOBER 1: Further testing has revealed Watson’s sprain to be a mild one, Schultz reports. As a result, a stint on injured reserve is unlikely, although some missed time could of course still be in store.
SEPTEMBER 29: The Packers could be without wide receiver Christian Watson for a couple of weeks. The third-year wideout was carted off the field in today’s loss to the Vikings, and according to veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, the early belief is that he suffered a high ankle sprain. 
Tests have not revealed a fracture, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds, but Watson will be an IR candidate. This would sideline the former second-round pick until Week 9. Watson has run into steady injury trouble during his career, having already missed 11 games — including eight last season. That total will soon expand.
Watson’s biggest season came as a second-round rookie with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. A season after the Packers traded away Davante Adams, Rodgers had one of his worst campaigns with the team while throwing to Watson, Allen Lazard, Romeo Doubs, and Randall Cobb. Watson led the team with seven receiving touchdowns while finishing second on the team with 611 receiving yards that year.
Once Jordan Love took over as quarterback, Watson’s role in the offense began to wane. In his second year, he caught only 28 of his 53 targets, finishing fourth on the team with 422 receiving yards while adding five touchdowns. So far this year, Watson has continued in that WR3/4 role, reeling in five passes for 80 yards and a score.
Despite some change in running back personnel, the Packers return much of the same offense from last year’s playoff crew. If Watson misses time, Love will still have Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks as his top-three wideouts. In Watson’s absence, Green Bay would need Bo Melton to step into the WR4 role.
High ankle sprains have been common so far this season with varying results. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1, and though he’s missed a couple plays, he hasn’t missed any starts following the injury. The Falcons placed center Drew Dalman on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, forcing him out for at least four contests. Lastly, Cowboys’ star defender Micah Parsons is expected to be out two to four weeks with the same ailment.
It seems to be dependent on the severity and the individual, but it seems likely Watson could miss an extended stretch. The 25-year-old will undergo some tests Monday to gain more clarity on his injury.
No real loss
Yep and water is wet. Shocking he’s injured…
I guess not all football players are as tough as you, including the other fellas mentioned in the article.
Al, I know you follow this stuff, and you know this dude has a proclivity for lengthy stays on the IL. He also spent the offseason training with sports specialists from the UW to try to address all of the hamstring and various other mobility concerns which keep him off the field. It’s quite likely this guy will have a short career; too bad because he is a gifted athlete. Whether or not toughness is a tangible mental factor from player to player is a great debate.
I don’t see how any of that is relevant to the current issue of getting his lower leg mangled in a football play. But I get it, you don’t like him so any injury is 95& him being soft.
For the record, I have been disappointed with his health issues as well. And probably still a bit upset he dropped an easy td on the first ball thrown to him. I’ve also had my share of ankle sprains, so I don’t doubt he’s actually injured. The medical staff saying so should be enough to verify it.
I think Wicks is the better receiver anyway.
Jayden Reed is the clear packers #1. Doubs and wicks are better than watson.
I’m actually a bit concerned about Wicks. He’s dropped a couple that looked easy enough to grab, and bubbled the TD last week before securing it as he went to the ground.
I’m wondering what happened to Heath. Either I’m not watching close enough, or he’s fallen down the depth chart for some reason.
Yeah, he’s only played 21 offensive snaps so far this year. I think Wicks is going to have some rocky moments in his game, but he has so much big play ability.
Dude can’t stay healthy.