The Green Bay Packers are the last act of Week 15 as they will be hosting the Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field. Coming into the season, this looked like a marquee matchup on paper as the reigning Super Bowl champion Rams would be facing off against a Packers team with their own championship aspirations. Unfortunately, that isn’t the heavyweight matchup we are getting.
Los Angeles is limping into this game with a 4-9 record and without many of their stars. Wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and quarterback Matthew Stafford are all out because of injuries.
Green Bay isn’t in much better shape as they are 5-8 and have dealt with injuries of their own throughout the season. However, coming off of the bye week, they are hoping that Aaron Rodgers is healthier after dealing with a broken thumb since Week 5 and an injury to his ribs in Week 13.
One player we know is healthier is wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Doubs has not played since getting injured in the first play of the game against the Detroit Lions on November 6th.
The Packers must be comfortable that he will make it through the game, as they made a surprising roster move Monday afternoon. Veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins is going to be on waivers as the Packers have decided to waive him ahead of their game Monday night.
This move comes out of nowhere, but it isn’t too shocking. Green Bay is healthy for the first time at wide receiver for the first time since Week 2 as Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Christian Watson and Doubs will all suit up. With all of them healthy, Watkins was going to be buried on the depth chart.
Watkins is the second casualty at the wide receiver position this season. Amari Rodgers, a third-round pick of the team in the 2021 NFL Draft, was released earlier this season as well, but his issues stem from his struggles as a punt returner.
Once he clears waivers, Watkins will have a chance to latch on with a team for the stretch run of the season. Some of his former teams, such as the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, have been connected to Odell Beckham Jr. and could have some interest in bringing Watkins back.
The New York Giants could also check in with the nine-year veteran as they need as much help as anyone at the wide receiver position after losing Collin Johnson, Sterling Shepard and Wan’Dale Robinson to injury. Kenny Golladay has been one of the biggest busts in free agency history and Kadarius Toney was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the deadline in November.
