Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was running routes in practice on Wednesday, three days after he was taken to a Denver-area hospital for precautionary scans on his chest.
While head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters that Watson was expected to be a limited participant in practice, he did note that the wide receiver is intent on playing for the Packers (9-4-1) in their NFC North showdown against the host Chicago Bears (10-4) on Saturday.
“He’s fighting to play, for sure, ultimately, it’s going through the process and seeing where he’s at. He’s got to prove it,” LaFleur said Wednesday.
Watson sustained injuries to his chest and left shoulder while attempting to catch a deep pass from Jordan Love with 12:55 remaining in the third quarter of the Packers’ 34-26 setback to the Broncos on Sunday. The pass was intercepted Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who landed on Watson while making the catch.
Watson, 26, had two touchdown receptions in Green Bay’s 28-21 victory over Chicago on Dec. 7.
He missed the first six games this season while rehabbing a torn ACL. He has 28 receptions for 481 yards and five touchdowns in eight games (all starts) this season.
A second-round draft pick in 2022, the speedy Watson has recorded 126 catches for 2,134 yards with 19 TDs in 46 career games (43 starts).
