Christian Watson, Aaron Jones to return for Packers on Thursday vs. Lions

The Green Bay Packers are expected to have both running back Aaron Jones and wide receiver Christian Watson back on the field this week as they face the Detroit Lions for Thursday Night Football.

Watson told reporters on Tuesday, that “the plan” is for him to be active on Thursday. As for Jones, his teammates have apparently spilled the beans.

“Packers QB Jordan Love was sure talking like they were going to have running back Aaron Jones back for Thursday against the Lions, and then WR Romeo Doubs just came right out and said it,” Rob Demovsky reported from practice.

In Week 1’s win over the Bears, Jones had nine carries for 41 yards and a touchdown before exiting the game with a hamstring injury. He ended up missing Weeks 2 and 3 as he recovered.

Last season, the former fifth-rounder out of UTEP posted 213 carries and a career-high of 1,121 rushing yards.

Without Jones in the lineup against the Atlanta Falcons, AJ Dillon led the Packers running backs with 15 carries for 55 yards. Against the Saints, Dillon added another 33 yards on 11 carries but it was Jordan Love that led in total rushing yards with 39 and a touchdown run.

Watson, who finished second on the team in receiving yards last season, hasn’t played yet this season. Last year, he posted 611 yards on 41 catches with eight touchdowns.

Leading the Green Bay receivers in Watson’s absence are Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs. Reed has 148 yards on nine receptions while Doubs has 129 yards on 11 catches. The duo has combined for five touchdowns so far this year.

Packers QB Jordan Love silences critics in comeback win

On Sunday, Jordan Love led the Packers to a huge comeback victory 18-17 over the Saints. He completed 22-of-44 passes for 259 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Green Bay overcame a 17-0 halftime deficit, capped by a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with less than three minutes in the game. Love hit Romeo Doubs in the endzone on an eight-yard strike to give the Packers the lead — which ultimately proved to be the winning score.

After the game, Pro Football Talk spoke with Love about proving the critics wrong from the offseason.

“Yeah, man, it’s out there for sure,” Love said. “You know, something that I’ve been hearing a lot of that stuff since I got drafted. It’s one of those things that it’s kind of in one ear, out the other . . . because I know the position I’m in. All quarterbacks in the NFL are in a pretty scrutinized position. You know, you can’t let that stuff affect you.

“I just stay true to who I am and confident in myself, confident in my team. I don’t get you know flustered by anything I hear or anything that’s out there because, you know, who are they to tell me who I am as a player?”

Love and his Pack get back after it against 2-1 Detroit on Thursday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET with the game airing on Amazon Prime Video.

On3’s Dustin Schutte contributed to this report.