Packers-Vikings Inactives: Two Impact Receivers Out
MINNEAPOLIS – To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Green Bay Packers’ will need their receiver depth to shine on Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings.
That’s because two of their top playmakers, Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks, are inactive. Watson was doubtful on the final injury report and will miss a fourth consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Wicks was questionable after suffering a chest injury on his touchdown catch against Carolina.
Along with Watson and Wicks, the other inactives are linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (neck), offensive tackle Caleb Jones and outside linebacker Brenton Cox.
Of note, defensive tackle TJ Slaton – the team’s best run-stopper – is active after missing practice on Thursday and Friday and being listed as questionable with knee and foot injuries.
Safety Darnell Savage (shoulder) is back in the lineup after missing the last two games. The Packers will need him to come up big considering the state of the secondary.
Can a shorthanded offense carry the load? The Packers put up a season-high 33 points at Carolina last week without Jayden Reed and Watson and with Wicks sitting out the second half.
For Green Bay, it’s a tribute to the play of Jordan Love and the coaching staff.
“I think it speaks most to the guys individually just making sure that they stay ready so they don’t have to get ready – that kind of mindset,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Friday. “I think Vrabs [receivers coach/passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable] has done an outstanding job.
“Obviously, I think Jordan does a great job of just trying to read plays true to the progression and what the defense presents, and then just going through his reads, throwing on time, and then those guys are ultimately making plays for him, as well. So, I think it’s a combination of a lot of things, but it definitely speaks to the depth that we have here in [the receiver] room.”
At least Reed is back after sitting out last week. He’ll be joined by Romeo Doubs, Malik Heath, Bo Melton and Samori Toure.
For the Vikings, rookie receiver Jordan Addison will play, as expected. He was questionable with an ankle injury. Cornerback Byron Murphy, the team leader in interceptions, is the only noteworthy player on the inactives list.
“He’s a hell of a player. He’s been impressive,” LaFleur said of Addison. “He’s a guy that we spent a lot of time on in the draft process watching. To see what he’s been able to do over the course of the season has been super-impressive. I thought he was really good when he was here and they played us in Game 1. He’s a guy that he creates a lot of problems because you can’t just totally take away one person [Justin Jefferson] because they’ve got other guys to go to.”
From a receiver-firepower perspective, this game looks like a colossal mismatch. The Vikings will have their elite trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn attacking a Green Bay secondary without the suspended Jaire Alexander and injured Eric Stokes.
