There were plenty of people excited to select Green Bay Packers WR Christian Watson in their fantasy football drafts this past offseason, but they’re still stuck waiting to see the explosive playmaker take the field here in 2023.

What’s the latest news on the Packers WR, and should fantasy managers expect to have him available for Week 3?

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Latest News Surrounding Christian Watson

Watson has missed the first two games of the 2023 NFL season due to a hamstring injury, but fantasy managers got some positive news on Wednesday when the second-year wideout returned to practice.

Christian Watson (hamstring) went through individual drills, while Aaron Jones (hamstring) did not.

Also in the rehab group: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins.

One other note: Lukas Van Ness took part after getting his elbow checked out earlier in the week. pic.twitter.com/3EWMXC0XBn

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) September 20, 2023

It’s worth noting that — at the time of writing — we do not know the full extent of Watson’s participation in practice. All signs point to him being just a limited participant, but it’s a positive step forward.

Will Watson Play This Week?

It’s too early to tell whether or not Watson will be back on the field this week against the New Orleans Saints. It’s trending in the right direction with him returning to practice, but it’s far from a guarantee as we are still several days out from that matchup.

The practice reports for Thursday and Friday will be critical to monitor for Watson to make sure he doesn’t avoid any setbacks and that he moves from a limited participant to a full participant, but there’s finally some optimism surrounding the explosive playmaker.

What Does This Mean for Watson’s Fantasy Ranking?

As of right now, I’d prefer to wait a week before I confidently start Watson in my fantasy league. We still have significant questions about who Jordan Love will feature in this passing attack, and Watson missing significant time to start the year certainly won’t help.

MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings

Additionally, the Saints’ defense figures to make life very tough on Love and this Packers passing game. As Watson is the presumed No. 1 option in this WR room, we could see Marshon Lattimore — the talented DB for the Saints — shadow him and eliminate him from the game plan altogether.

If you have Watson on your roster, it’s probably best to wait a week and see how he looks in this matchup before considering him as anything more than a Flex play.

Injuries are an unfortunate reality of NFL life, but everyone who follows the league — fantasy football players, sports bettors, and fans of teams — wants the latest health information. In that vein, we’re tracking every NFL injury ahead of Week 3.

Let’s review the injury report for every game on the NFL’s Week 3 schedule. Remember, you can always stay up-to-date on the latest injury buzz around the league with PFN’s NFL and Fantasy News Tracker.

NFL Week 3 Injury Tracker

New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers

Aiyuk couldn’t play a full complement of Week 3 snaps after suffering a shoulder injury, and he’s now facing a short turnaround with the 49ers playing on Thursday night. He was limited during a Tuesday walkthrough, and San Francisco general manager John Lynch labeled Aiyuk a game-time decision for TNF.

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

Neither Richardson nor Kelly will practice on Wednesday, per Colts head coach Shane Steichen. Richardson scored two rushing touchdowns before going down on Sunday — he’ll be replaced by Gardner Minshew if he can’t play. Wesley French would step in at center if Kelly is sidelined against the Ravens.

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions

St. Brown was in and out of Detroit’s lineup in Week 3 while dealing with cramping, and he’s not practicing on Wednesday due to a toe injury. Lions head coach Dan Campbell called him day-to-day. It goes without saying that losing ASRB would be a tremendous blow to Detroit’s chances against Atlanta on Sunday.

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers

• Saints: RB Kendre Miller (hamstring); RB Jamaal Williams (hamstring)
• Packers: TBD

Miller hasn’t made his NFL debut after being selected in the third round of April’s draft, but Saints head coach Dennis Allen said the TCU product should be a “full go” this week. His return will bolster New Orleans’ backfield, especially as Alvin Kamara completes his three-game suspension and Williams misses time with his own hamstring injury.

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

• Texans: QB C.J. Stroud (shoulder)
• Jaguars: WR Zay Jones (knee)

Stroud was a late addition to the Texans’ injury report last week, but he ended up taking every offensive snap for Houston despite dealing with a shoulder issue. The rookie signal-caller said he expects to be 100% for Week 3 and was heavily involved in Wednesday’s practice.

Jones won’t practice for the Jaguars on Wednesday after suffering a knee injury in Week 3, but head coach Doug Pederson labeled the veteran wideout day-to-day. If Zay Jones sits against the Texans on Sunday, Tim Jones would be the next man up in Jacksonville’s WR corps.

Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins

• Broncos: TBD
• Dolphins: TBD

Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota Vikings

• Chargers: TBD
• Vikings: TBD

New England Patriots at New York Jets

• Patriots: TBD
• Jets: TBD

Buffalo Bills at Washington Commanders

• Bills: TBD
• Commanders: TBD

Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

• Panthers: QB Bryce Young (ankle); RB Miles Sanders (knee); EDGE Brian Burns (ankle); EDGE Justin Houston (calf); EDGE Amare Barno (thigh); LB Chandler Wooten (knee)
• Seahawks: TBD

The Panthers only held a walkthrough on Wednesday, so their practice report is an estimation. But Young, who had his ankle checked out after Week 2, did not participate in the walkthrough. Carolina head coach Frank Reich is unsure of Young’s status for Sunday.

Panthers coach Frank Reich on Bryce Young ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/PZyFnBbTDZ

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) September 20, 2023

If Young can’t suit up against the Seahawks, veteran Andy Dalton would take over under center. The Panthers also signed Jake Luton — who was with the club this summer — to their practice squad on Tuesday. He’d be elevated to Carolina’s 53-man roster if Young is inactive.

Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals

• Cowboys: WR Brandin Cooks (knee); OT Tyler Smith (hamstring); G Zack Martin (ankle); G Chuma Edoga (elbow); S Donovan Wilson (calf);
• Cardinals: TBD

Cooks, Smith, Edoga, and Wilson will all practice on Wednesday, while Martin will be with Dallas’ rehab group, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday. Cooks, Smith, and Wilson all missed Sunday’s game against the Jets, while Edoga left early.

Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs

• Bears: TBD
• Chiefs: RB Isiah Pacheco (hamstring); WR Kadarius Toney (toe); WR Richie James (MCL); LB Nick Bolton (ankle); LB Willie Gay (quad)

None of the Chiefs’ injured players will practice on Wednesday, although Bolton and Gay participated in a walkthrough session.

Pachecho dealt with hand and labrum issues throughout the summer, but his hamstring injury is new. If he’s forced to sit out Week 3, Jerick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire would likely form a running back committee against the Bears.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders

• Steelers: TBD
• Raiders: TBD

Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Eagles: TBD
• Buccaneers: TBD

Los Angeles Rams at Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have played only two games, and already, each of their top three draft picks has more snaps at their primary position than 2022 first-round selection Dax Hill had throughout his entire rookie season.

Blocked by veterans Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, Hill logged just 20 snaps at safety in 19 regular-season and postseason games.

What Has Bengals DC Lou Anarumo Seen From His Rookie Draft Picks?

Through the first two games this season, first-round defensive end Myles Murphy has 32 snaps, second-round cornerback DJ Turner has 59, and third-round safety Jordan Battle has 26.

“I think it’ll pay dividends down the road for sure,” defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said after watching film of the team’s 27-24 loss to the Ravens.

But there are going to be growing pains before those dividends cash, and Anarumo spent some time Monday detailing a couple of plays that illustrate where the rookies are on the learning curve.

Battle got his first significant snaps Sunday when starter Nick Scott left the game injured twice, once in the second quarter and again in the fourth, at which point he was ruled out with a concussion. Anarumo brought up one of Battle’s first plays – a first and 10 at the Baltimore 47 – when asked how the rookie did.

“He’s at the point of attack on one of the runs where he’s standing right in the gap,” Anarumo said. “It’s a simple fit, and he’s kind of soft and playing pass instead of playing run and it’s (8) yards. He’s the free hitter. Nobody blocked him.”

Battle, who is lined up alongside linebackers Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt, looks into the backfield but inexplicably back pedals as Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson hands the ball to running back Justice Hill.

After he reacts and recovers, he misses the tackle on Hill, turning a five-yard run into a gain of eight.

“It’s all lessons learned,” Anarumo said. “Unfortunately, this time of year, it costs you when you have a rookie safety in that situation where they’re a little unsure, and it’s his first time. But he’ll get better and learn from it.”

MORE: Ranking the NFL’s 0-2 Teams

Turner has had the most work through the first two games as he rotates with starting corner Chidobe Awuzie as part of a load management program, with Awuzie seeing his first action since tearing his ACL last Halloween. And, for the most part, Turner has played well.

But Anarumo pointed at Turner on a play that was not only the longest but the biggest momentum swing of the game when Jackson hit Zay Flowers for 52 yards one play after Baltimore safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow at the goal line.

HOLY ZAY !!!!!!!!!!

Tune in on CBS/@paramountplus pic.twitter.com/5TT7vI7af9

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 17, 2023

Turner was at left corner on Rashod Bateman. His assignment was to pass him off to Dax Hill and be the help on a deep shot, which in this case went to Flowers with Cam Taylor-Britt in coverage.

“I thought the guys were in really good shape,” Anarumo said. “I thought Cam was there. It was a hell of a throw and catch. DJ could’ve pushed quicker. He ended up getting there. He was about a stride away from being close enough to knock the ball away, so it’s a lesson learned for the rookie there.

“As soon as we do the coverage we did it there, he’s got to go like a bat out of hell and get there,” Anarumo continued. “So he should intercept it, really, at the end of the day. We’re kind of losing a safety and gaining a safety, and he was just a little bit slow.”

Murphy has yet to show up on the stat sheet in either of his first two games. He played 13 snaps against the Browns and 19 against the Ravens. Pro Football Focus credited Murphy with a pressure against Baltimore, but the rookie from Clemson is still looking for his first tackle and quarterback hit.

But Anarumo had a much more positive take on what he’s seen from Murphy.

MORE: PFN’s Week 3 NFL Power Rankings

“He just keeps getting better each week. You see his speed, you see his athleticism, similar to Dax,” Anarumo said, adding that he doesn’t think Hill would have been able to play this early as a rookie as Murphy has.

“Now that (Hill) has a year under his belt, he’s making plays out there. He’s being aggressive. It’ll be the same for (Murphy), and hopefully he’ll continue to make plays for us as the season goes on this year,” Anarumo said. “We’re gonna have him out there. He’s gonna get his reps. I just think every week is a learning experience for him.”

Whether Battle continues to get snaps will depend on how quickly Scott recovers from his concussion, and Turner’s usage will be tied to when the staff feels comfortable about Awuzie’s recovery to use him full time.

Murphy’s playing time could be contingent on outside forces as well, with Joseph Ossai expected to be back soon, possibly Monday night, from his ankle injury.