The Green Bay Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Chicago Bears this Sunday, and Packers fans will probably be happy with the status updates on cornerback Jaire Alexander and wide receiver Christian Watson.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, head coach Matt LaFleur said that Alexander will be back on the field this weekend after being suspended for last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings, per Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
LaFleur said that he had a great conversation with Alexander.
As for Watson? His status is a bit more complicated, as he is dealing with a hamstring injury, but LaFleur seemed relatively optimistic about the wide out heading into Week 18.
“I know he had a good week last week, and his ability to run,” LaFleur said, via Ryan Wood of USA Today. “Hopefully we can stack that and have him available Sunday. Because he’ll definitely bring a spark.”
Alexander was banned from Week 17 after a bizarre incident the week prior, where Alexander took the field for the coin toss in spite of not being named a team captain.
Watson has missed the last four games due to his current hamstring issue, marking the second different time this season that he has been sidelined as a result of a balky hamstring. He was absent for Green Bay’s first three games of 2023 because of a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old has played in just nine contests this year and has caught 28 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns. He was expected to be the Packers’ No. 1 receiver going into the campaign, but obviously, injuries have prevented him from doing that.
Alexander has also missed considerable time due to injuries this season. He has appeared in just six games, logging 25 tackles, a forced fumble and four passes defended. The 26-year-old has made two trips to the Pro Bowl, including last year when he racked up 56 tackles, five interceptions and 14 passes defended in 16 contests.
The Packers having both Jaire Alexander and Christian Watson back on the gridiron against the Bears would go a long way in helping them lock down a playoff spot.
Green Bay is 8-7 heading into the matchup.
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