Packers WRs Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs missing practice, dealing with injuries

Just ahead of their season-opener, the Green Bay Packers are down a couple of major wide receivers.

According to longtime Packers beat reporter Rob Demovsky, Green Bay has a pair of their best wideouts on the injured list this week: Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Here was his report of that news:

“Maybe not the ideal way to start the week: Christian Watson has joined Romeo Doubs (hamstring) on injury list. Watson will be on the injury report released this afternoon. Could know more about his status then and from LaFleur.”

There’s no way around it: that’s some somber news for the Green Bay Packers.

Demovsky had actually noted over the summer that Doubs was emerging as a favorite target for new quarterback Jordan Love.

“While Christian Watson got most of the attention for his big plays late last season, Doubs has seemingly become quarterback Jordan Love’s go-to guy — at least in the offseason practices,” Demovsky reported. “Whether it’s in scripted team periods or move-the-ball drills like the two-minute simulation, Doubs has been targeted time and again.”

So he seems to have had a great offseason and preseason camp up until the hamstring issue popped up in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the Watson injury is new news and bad news.

Watson was a second-round pick a year ago and turned in a solid rookie season, especially towards the end, totaling 611 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on the year. Coming into this year, he was expected to take a leap as the star guy in the Packers WR room.

Be on the lookout for the official injury report later today, which should denote the type of injury Watson has. Hopefully for the Packers’ sake it’s not too serious. Because they desperately need their top two receivers in the fold if they want to compete with a brand new QB.

In the absence of Doubs and Watson, the Packers run pretty thin at receiver. They did pick up Michigan State’s Jayden Reed in the second round of this year’s draft and he’s surely getting more reps with the starters out.

Elsewhere, Ole Miss rookie Malik Heath is listed behind Watson on the team depth chart, while Dontayvion Wicks and Samori Toure are some of the other backup options.

Frankly, there’s not much, if any, established talent on the roster at wide receiver outside of Watson and Doubs — who are young players in their own right. Getting them back on the field promptly is the No. 1 priority for Green Bay right now, or else Jordan Love will be fighting an uphill battle on Sunday.