The Green Bay Packers could open the 2023 season without their two top wide receivers.
Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs both missed Wednesday’s practice due to hamstring injuries. Head coach Matt LaFleur expressed uncertainty about their availability for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
“We’ll give ’em the whole week and we’ll see where they’re at,” LaFleur said Wednesday, via The Athlethic’s Matt Schneidman.
Packers’ WRs Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs did not participate in practice today due to hamstring injuries.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 6, 2023
Matt LaFleur on Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs not practicing today:
“We’ll give ‘em the whole week and we’ll see where they’re at.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) September 6, 2023
A year after trading Davante Adams, Green Bay watched Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb join Aaron Rodgers on the New York Jets. Tight end Robert Tonyan signed with the Bears, leaving the second-year-pros as the returning leading receivers.
Selected with the No. 34 pick, Watson caught 41 of 66 targets for 611 yards and seven touchdowns — all scored in a four-week window — in 14 games. He caught a 63-yard touchdown from his new starting quarterback, Jordan Love, in Week 12.
Doubs, a fourth-round pick, secured 42 of 67 targets for 425 yards and three scores. Watson’s breakout coincided with the fellow rookie missing four games due to an ankle sprain.
Green Bay’s passing offense could be in considerable trouble if one or both players are sidelined. No other Packers receiver registered 100 or more yards last season.
Without Watson and Doubs, rookie Jayden Reed would lead a short-handed and inexperienced group also including Samori Toure, Dontayvion Wicks, and Malik Heath. Love would have to lean heavily on running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon in his first career Week 1 start.
The NFC North battle takes place Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET at Soldier Field.