Christian Watson’s hope? To be ’90, 95%’ and play in Packers’ playoff matchup with Cowboys.
REEN BAY — Christian Watson thinks he can play in Sunday’s NFC wild card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“I mean, in my head,” the Green Bay Packers second-year wide receiver said Wednesday after taking part in practice on a limited basis, “it’s 100%.”
The problem is Watson’s pesky hamstring injury, which cost him three games at the start of the season and has now forced him to sit out the past five games, including last Sunday’s playoff-clinching 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field, won’t be 100% by game time.
But by Watson’s math, if the hamstring, which he re-injured late in the team’s Dec. 3 win over the defending Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs, is closer to 90%, then he will be able to suit up for the matchup with the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“Obviously like last week, I’ve still got to prove to them (I can play),” Watson said of the team’s athletic training and medical staffs. “Not to say I wasn’t doing everything I could before, but I’m doing everything I possibly can to be able to go on Sunday.”
Although coach Matt LaFleur had indicated during the week Watson was trending toward being able to play against the Bears, the coach admitted after the win he’d been engaging in some gamesmanship and that Watson wasn’t really that close.
Watson said when he returned to action in Week 4 he was “more around 90, 95%” and that that’s the goal for this week.
“I don’t think I’m going to be 100% either way, to be honest,” said Watson, who despite missing those eight games still has 28 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns this season. “I’ve got to be able to play at the level that I know is going to benefit the team and not put us in a worse spot. So, I’m not thinking about it as I’ve got to be 100%, but I’ve got to be able to make a positive impact to go.”
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Watson said he hasn’t had his hamstring scanned for about three weeks and his ability to play will be more based on feel than any diagnostic tests.
“(Being) 70, 75% with the stuff that I do on the field just isn’t enough,” Watson said. “Obviously having the chance to have a playoff run (is exciting), but knowing that we’ve got the guys in the room to do it regardless (is reassuring).”
Injury report
As he has in recent weeks, LaFleur opted for a walkthrough-style practice Wednesday, so it obviously wasn’t the most arduous practice. Still, the only player who didn’t take part at all was running back AJ Dillon, who is still recovering from a stinger he suffered against Minnesota on Dec. 24.
Although veteran Aaron Jones has had three consecutive 100-yard rushing games, LaFleur is hoping he’ll have his 1-2 punch at running back back together against the Cowboys.
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