Injured Packers Playmaker Plans to Play vs. Steelers in Week 8

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is going to have its hands full against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is hoping to have a bounce back performance against the Green Bay Packers after getting embarrassed by 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals a week ago. Unfortunately, it looks like that task just got a little more difficult.

Packers wide receiver Christian Watson recently revealed that he has the intention of returning to the field on Sunday Night Football.

“My goal and my plan is to play this week,” Watson said, adding that he felt ready last week.

Watson has not played at all this season as he has been rehabbing from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season in Week 18. He returned to practice on Oct. 6, which makes his 21-day window set to expire on Oct. 27.

If Watson does, in fact, make his return this week, it will only liken the Steelers’ chances of dropping back-to-back games.

The 26-year-old has provided big-play ability for Green Bay’s offense since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Over the past few years, he has recorded 98 catches for 1,653 yards (16.9 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns. He has also done some damage on the ground, with 15 rushes for 114 yards and two more scores.

Watson will potentially join veteran wide receivers Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks as well as rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams on the field come Sunday.

None have established themselves as clear No. 1 options to this point of their careers, but that could make Pittsburgh’s task of covering all of them that more difficult.

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Watson played college ball at North Dakota State, where he racked up 104 receptions for 2,134 yards and 14 touchdowns from 2018-21.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Injured Packers Playmaker Plans to Play vs. Steelers in Week 8