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One week off wasn’t enough for Green Bay’s best two weapons.
Packers running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) and wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) are inactive for Sunday’s home opener against the New Orleans Saints.
It marks the second week in a row that Green Bay will be without Jones and Watson.
Both playmakers logged two limited practices with hamstring injuries and received questionable designations on Friday, but it’ll be another week until they take the field again. Watson has still yet to make his 2023 debut, while Jones was injured during a 35-yard touchdown run in Week 1 that cut short an electric performance.
Again without Watson, the Packers’ receiving room must find answers it didn’t have in crunch time of last Sunday’s 25-24 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, when the Jordan Love-led offense managed just seven net yards on three fourth-quarter possessions to give away a 24-12 lead.
Romeo Doubs should assume the role of Love’s most-trusted WR target, but rookie Jayden Reed has already made a name for himself with 85 yards and two scores. Dontayvion Wicks and tight end Luke Musgrave, also rookies, have shown promise, as well.
AJ Dillon must also step up more than he did in that loss. The bruising back rushed for 55 yards on 15 carries and lacked clean footwork on several runs. He’ll carry the load, with Patrick Taylor and Emmanuel Wilson trying to fill the rest of the massive void left by Jones.
Elsewhere, left tackle David Bakhtiari is missing a second game due to a persistent knee issue, and cornerback Jaire Alexander will be absent after popping up Friday with a back injury.
Sunday is set up to be this young offense’s most grueling test yet. The Saints have held opponents to 20 points or less in 10 straight games dating back to last season.
Snapping such a streak will be that much tougher without the talents of Jones and Watson, but Love and Co. will give it their best shot when Green Bay and New Orleans kick off Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
If Derek Carr is unable to play this Sunday against the Buccaneers then it will be the Jameis Winston show for the Saints. Carr expressed his confidence in Winston when speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm breaks down four things to watch for when the Lions face the Packers on “Thursday Night Football.”
NFL.com keeps you up to date with each player’s injury designation for Week 4 of the 2023 season.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s status for Week 4 remains uncertain at the midpoint of the work week. Garoppolo remains in concussion protocol, Raiders coach Josh McDaniels told reporters Wednesday.
NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Visit NFL.com’s transaction hub for a daily breakdown.
Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III and Miami back De’Von Achane led the way for the Players of the Week, which were released Wednesday.Â
Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters on Wednesday that Anthony Richardson will return to practice for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 2. The rookie QB will take the first-team reps, per Steichen.
The Dallas Cowboys have moved the ball well enough with Mike McCarthy calling plays through three weeks between the 20s but have come up woefully shy in the red zone.
With the 0-3 Minnesota Vikings versus the 0-3 Carolina Panthers and the 0-3 Denver Broncos versus the 0-3 Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon, postseason hopes are likely already on the line in these Week 4 matchups.
The speed combination of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane has been on display early this season, and with the Dolphins piling on 70 points Sunday, it’s the talk of the league.
New England Patriots Bill O’Brien downplayed the information he might gather from former Cowboys players Will Grier and Ezekiel Elliott ahead of a showdown with Dallas — even if his opposing offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer has it on his mind.
Injury issues within the Los Angeles Chargers receiving corps are unfortunately nothing novel. Mike Williams has been lost for the year, just a season after he and running mate Keenan Allen seldom saw the field together. This time around, though, the Chargers have a rookie first-rounder ready and waiting in Quentin Johnston.
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