Packers-Vikings Inactives: Watson, Nixon Will Play

The Green Bay Packers will have two of their impact players, receiver Christian Watson and slot defender/kick returner Keisean Nixon, available for Sunday’s showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Jan 1, 2023 3:06 PM EST
Original:
Jan 1, 2023

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Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Rookie receiver Christian Watson and cornerback/kick returner Keisean Nixon, two of the Green Bay Packers’ high-impact players, will play in Sunday’s must-win game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Both players went through pregame workouts to determine their availability. Shortly before inactives were announced at 1:55 p.m., Watson was on the field catching passes.

Green Bay’s inactives are cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, running back Tyler Goodson, linebacker Krys Barnes, offensive tackles Rasheed Walker and Caleb Jones, receiver Bo Melton and defensive tackle Jonathan Ford.

Goodson was elevated from the practice squad but won’t play and Melton was signed off Seattle’s practice squad this week.

The interesting name is Ford, a seventh-round pick who has been inactive for all 16 games. With Dean Lowry on injured reserve, the Packers will go with only Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, TJ Slaton and Devonte Wyatt on the defensive line.

Those are mere footnotes, though.

Watson suffered a hip injury on a key fourth-down reception last week at Miami while Nixon suffered a groin injury last week. Watson practiced as limited participation on Friday, his only time on the practice field all week. That was one more time than Nixon, whose only on-field work was limited to some drills with a trainer.

That Watson at least practiced was a big deal. Rookies who don’t practice often don’t play. That’s especially true for Watson, a player who has missed time with knee, hamstring and head injuries in addition to the hip. He’s played only 43 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.

But this is a big-time game and Watson is a big-time performer. Among receivers, Watson is tied for the rookie lead with Washington receiver Jahan Dotson with seven touchdown receptions. Among all rookies, Watson is tied with Seattle running back Kenneth Walker with nine total touchdowns.

Asked this week if Watson could play on limited or no practice reps, receivers coach/passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable said: “He’s really intelligent. He has a great grasp of our playbook. He can move around and play all three positions. Those type of things I feel really confident with. Obviously, you like to maybe get some reps on a newer route or two. You like to get the timing down and feel it out. If he can go, that’d be great. If he can’t, it is what it is.”

Since his emergence with three touchdowns against Dallas, the Packers are ninth in the NFL in scoring the past six weeks.

“He provides a big, explosive element to the offense,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich said. “As you know, if you have to consistently hammer out 13-play drives to score, most NFL defenses, that’s going to be a hard thing to do. But if you can get one or two big plays a game where now you’re pushing the ball down the field, you’re getting huge chunks, that’s a big advantage. Typically, explosive plays lead to points.”

Watson ran 40s in the mid-4.2s during his predraft training and in 4.36 seconds at the Scouting Combine. Even if not 100 percent, he’s still fast.

“Obviously, me utilizing my speed is a big part of my game but yeah, I’m sure 80 percent is still pretty good,” he said with a smile.

On Friday, the Packers thought there was a good chance Nixon would be available. He leads the NFL with a 27.5-yard average on kickoffs and nine kickoff returns of 30-plus yards. He has one interception and two passes defensed on defense and six tackles on special teams. Speed is a big element to his return game; the workout determined whether he had that extra gear.