Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday there is no concern about wide receivers Christian Watson or Matthew Golden playing Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
Watson, dealing with an ankle injury, and Golden, listed with a shoulder issue, both appeared as limited participants on Wednesday’s initial injury report. The Packers conducted only a walkthrough that day, so participation levels were estimates. Neither receiver had been on the previous week’s report.
When asked directly whether he had any concern about either player for Sunday’s game, LaFleur answered, “No.”
The pair has formed one of the league’s most productive receiving tandems through six games. Watson has 29 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 18.6 yards per reception. Golden has 30 receptions for 501 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 16.7 yards per catch.
Combined, they have 1,039 receiving yards and nine scores. That production ranks among the highest for any wide receiver duo this season and marks the first time multiple Packers have each topped 500 yards this early in a year in recent franchise history.
Quarterback Jordan Love has directed much of the offense’s success through the deep passing game. According to Next Gen Stats, Love leads the NFL with 988 passing yards on throws traveling at least 10 air yards. He also ranks second league-wide with 402 yards on passes of 20 or more air yards.
Lions coach Dan Campbell has highlighted the challenge those connections create.
“Offensively, Love, man, he makes it go. He is the secret sauce,” Campbell said. “And Watson and Golden, man, they’re dangerous threats down the field and he’s going to give them opportunities that show up every week.”
Detroit’s pass defense ranks at or near the bottom of the NFL, allowing approximately 297 to 304 yards per game through six weeks. The unit has struggled against explosive plays, a vulnerability the Packers have exploited during their recent stretch.
Love himself was limited Wednesday with a back injury. LaFleur said the quarterback was “pretty beat up” after the previous game and was seen with the chiropractor afterward. Love took several hits in Green Bay’s win over Dallas.
Reports from Thursday’s practice indicated that Love, Watson and Golden all worked in pads. Running back Josh Jacobs, who has returned after time on the commissioner’s exempt list, also practiced as he works back into shape. LaFleur has not guaranteed Jacobs will play Sunday.
The Packers enter the NFC North matchup at 4-2 following a three-game winning streak. The offense has leaned heavily on the passing attack during that span while the run game has ranked near the bottom of the league in yards per game.
Availability of Watson and Golden preserves the vertical element that has defined Green Bay’s recent production. Their absence would force greater reliance on intermediate routes and a ground game still seeking consistency.
The Lions stand at 3-2 after a bye week. Both teams sit behind the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the division, making the Sunday contest at Ford Field significant for positioning.
Watson and Golden have each posted multiple 100-yard games this season. Their combination of speed and ability to track the ball downfield has required defenses to allocate extra resources on every snap.
Thursday’s participation in full pads reduced any questions that remained after Wednesday’s limited estimates. The Packers will release official game-status designations on Friday.
Green Bay’s three consecutive victories have come by a combined 37 points, with Love consistently finding his top targets on downfield throws. Maintaining that efficiency against Detroit’s secondary offers a direct path for the Packers to sustain momentum.
The offense has averaged well over 250 passing yards per game during the winning streak. Preserving the Watson-Golden connection gives Love the same downfield options that have fueled those results.
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