The Packers are making a move this weekend, and what was a murky 53-man roster picture heading into Week 8’s big showdown with the Steelers appears to be clearing up.
Two of the big questions heading into the weekend were what the team would do with its kicking situation, where Brandon McManus is coming back from a quad injury while Lucas Havrisik has been surprisingly effective in his place, and whether Week 8 would see the return to action of Christian Watson, the star receiver who tore his ACL in the final week of the 2024 season.
On Saturday, ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky wrote on Twitter/X that the team has its solution to both problems, which is to cut tight end Ben Sims.
Wrote Demovsky: “The Packers are releasing TE Ben Sims, per source. That likely means they’re activating WR Christian Watson off PUP and keeping two kickers at least for another week.”
Packers’ Ben Sims Lost Playing Time
Sims was an undrafted tight end out of Baylor in 2023 who latched on with the team in August that year after he was let go by the Vikings . Sims played 17 games in each of the past two seasons, on both offense (he made six starts) and special teams, but has seen his role diminished this year.
Sims had some highlights from his time in Green bay, including a touchdown catch in the Packers’ 2023 upset of the Chiefs in a “Sunday Night Football” game that was part of the team’s remarkable second-half run.
But the Packers have relied more on John FitzPatrick as the third tight end behind Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, rendering Sims extraneous.
Christian Watson Return Loading Up
Sims’ departure does pave the way for the Packers to have another roster spot for the return of Watson from a grueling knee injury rehab. He has been eager to play, and has been back at practice for two weeks in anticipation of his return on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
On Friday evening, Watson posted an Instagram video that indicated he was planning to play on Sunday.
On Friday, coach Matt LaFleur was uncertain about Watson’s return, hoping that one more practice might pave the way for Watson. “Let’s just get through the week and see where he’s at,” LaFleur said .
LaFleur said Watson will take on significant responsibility when he gets on the field, especially with Jayden Reed out and Matthew Golden questionable. “I think a lot of it is getting reacclimated, you’re talking about a long layoff without football. Just trying it build him up so he can handle the demands that are going to be placed on him on game day,” he said.
Packers Can Add Christian Watson, Keep Kickers
Heading into the weekend, the conventional logic held that the Packers would have to cut Havrisik to make a roster spot for Watson. But Green Bay is naturally reluctant to give up on Havrisik considering he has gone 10-for-10 for the team on kicks in the two weeks since McManus has been out.
Havrisik made four field goals, including a team-record 61-yarder last week against the Cardinals . Green Bay doesn’t want to lose McManus, but Havrisik is eight years younger (26) than McManus and could be the team’s kicker of the future.
No team likes to use roster spots for two kickers. LaFleur said the team will do it if necessary though, and for now, it appears necessary.
“Potentially, if it comes to that, if we absolutely have to. I’d rather not if I’m being honest about it. This situation could be a little bit different,” the coach said.
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