GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers on Saturday made only one roster move before Sunday’s NFC wild-card playoff game at the Dallas Cowboys, elevating cornerback David Long Jr. from the practice squad.
As always, the roster moves that aren’t made are just as interesting as the moves that were made. Here’s what it means for two high-profile starters.
Elevated: CB David Long Jr.
With starter Jaire Alexander questionable with a “freak” ankle injury sustained at Wednesday’s low-impact practice, the Packers took out some insurance by elevating cornerback David Long.
“We don’t know,” coach Matt LaFleur said of Alexander’s availability. “We’re just trying to give him up to game time to figure it out. He will legitimately be a gametime decision.”
Alexander played in only seven of 17 games in the regular season, missing time with back and shoulder injuries as well as a one-game suspension. He came back from the suspension and allowed only one catch in the playoff-clinching victory over the Bears last week.
Obviously, Alexander’s availability would be a big deal. The Cowboys led the NFL in scoring this season and scored a resounding 37.3 points per game at home. Quarterback Dak Prescott led the NFL in touchdown passes and receiver CeeDee Lamb led the league in receptions.
If Alexander can’t play, the Packers would be down to rookie Carrington Valentine, veteran Corey Ballentine, slot Keisean Nixon and midseason additions Robert Rochell and Long as depth.
The Packers claimed Long, a former third-round pick, off waivers from Carolina last month. He was released last week as part of the roster moves necessary to get tight end Luke Musgrave and running back Emanuel Wilson back on the 53-man roster from injured reserve.
On Friday, the Packers listed running back AJ Dillon (neck) as doubtful. But, with Wilson ready to contribute behind Aaron Jones and Patrick Taylor, they released veteran running back Kenyan Drake from the practice squad and brought Long back to the practice squad.
On Sunday, Long will be available to play in his first playoff game since starting in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory over Cincinnati two years ago.
“The Super Bowl was great,” Long told Packer Central after one of his first practices. “I feel like we caught our stride at the right time, kind of how this team is doing. We just kind of rode that wave into the playoffs. Everybody bought in and we were able to do something special.”
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Not Elevated: WR Grant DuBose
Last week, the Packers elevated receiver Grant DuBose from the practice squad. A day later, Christian Watson was inactive for the win-and-in victory over the Chicago Bears.
That they didn’t make a move with DuBose on Saturday doesn’t necessarily indicate Watson will play a big role – or even play at all – on Sunday.
In listing Watson questionable on Friday’s injury report due to the big-play receiver’s troublesome hamstring, LaFleur said Watson was closer to playing this week than last week.
“A lot of it’s going to be on how he feels and where we’re at with him,” he said.
Last week, LaFleur admitted to engaging in some “gamesmanship” in saying Watson had a chance to play against the Bears. Not this week.
“This is legit,” LaFleur said.
Watson could wind up inactive, anyway. Last week, while DuBose was elevated, he was inactive. The Packers simply went with Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton and Malik Heath. The Packers could take the same route if Watson doesn’t believe he’s ready to help the team.
The Packers have been rolling without Watson, but he’d obviously be an asset. When the Packers beat the Cowboys last season, he caught four passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns.
That big game kick-started a big-time finish to the season that, in turn, created enormous expectations for Year 2. However, by missing the first three games and the last five games with hamstring injuries, Watson in nine games ranked seventh on the team with 28 receptions, fourth with 422 yards and third with five touchdown grabs.
In the final two games before the injury, he caught five passes for 94 yards and one touchdown in a victory at Detroit and seven passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Kansas City.
Can Watson make a big impact after a long layoff?
“I don’t think I’m going to be 100 percent either way, to be honest,” he said this week. “Coming back from hamstrings, even when I was coming back earlier in the season, I think it was more around 90, 95 percent and I was still playing in the Detroit game and the Vegas game. That’s just how it is.
“You’ve got to work through a couple kinks after getting back with the soft-tissue stuff, but I’ve got to be able to play at the level that I know is going to benefit the team and not put us in a worse spot. So, I’m not thinking about it as I’ve got to be 100 percent, but I’ve got to be able to make a positive impact to go.”
Even without Watson, the Packers won their last three games thanks to the superb play of quarterback Jordan Love and his incredibly young, talented and deep receiver corps.
“Whoever’s in the game, we just try to play to the best of our ability,” Melton said. “Christian’s a dynamic player. We know what Christian can do. Our group full power is a really good group.”
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