When Christian Watson went down during Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, fears of a serious injury spread quickly. Some injuries look severe, and this certainly fell into that category.
Watson might not have the standout stats to back it up, but his influence on the Green Bay Packers’ offense is undeniable. His speed poses a significant challenge for defensive coordinators, often forcing them to allocate multiple defenders to him. He is also the top blocker among the team’s receivers, showcasing his ability for big plays. Additionally, his positive attitude means he never complains about not receiving the ball.
What Watson really needs is a bit of luck with injuries. He has been working diligently to overcome persistent hamstring issues. His ankle injury in Week 4 was simply unfortunate—it’s part of the game.
Fortunately, the latest update brings good news.
Although Watson suffered a high-ankle sprain, NFL insider Jordan Schultz indicates it was merely a “mild one” that likely won’t necessitate a stint on injured reserve.
High-ankle sprains can lead to extended absences and can be challenging to recover from, but if the Packers believe he doesn’t need to be placed on IR, it hints that his time away from the field will be brief. Being put on IR would require him to miss at least four games.
In the interim, we can expect more action from Dontayvion Wicks.
In Week 4, Jordan Love targeted Wicks 13 times. While Wicks had some struggles with drops, he made crucial plays late in the game, including two touchdown catches. Increased playing time could help him develop rhythm and achieve the breakout season many anticipated.
Although Watson may miss some time, a mild high-ankle sprain is a much more promising update than what we feared when he went down in Week 4. Here’s hoping his absence will be short-lived.
