Packers Cut Ties With Ex-Starter Amid Christian Watson News
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.
NFL Announces Punishment for Broncos Duo Before Cowboys Game
Dre Greenlaw was not the only Denver Broncos player who received discipline from the NFL this week. Teammates Justin Strnad and
All three players’ infractions occurred during the Broncos’ 33-32 win over the
However, Moss and Strnad have not been suspended for their actions, as Greenlaw was for his.
Riley Moss Fined for Facemask Penalty in Broncos-Giants
GettyRiley Moss #21 of the Denver Broncos tackles Wan’Dale Robinson #17 of the New York Giants.
According to the NFL’s football operations portal, Moss received a fine for an unnecessary roughness/facemask penalty he incurred in the third quarter of the Broncos’ win over the Giants in Week 7.
Moss, a former third-round pick in the third year of a four-year, $5.4 million contract, received an $8,253 fine as a result. It is the first fine Moss has received from the
This was also the least costly of his two penalties in the game, as the Giants eventually punted.
Moss was also penalized for pass interference in the fourth quarter, which, while questionable to draw protest from Broncos head coach
“That was silly,” Payton told reporters on October 19. I had just felt like, man, I’m close with a number of people on that crew. But it just so happens in the last three times, the numbers haven’t been good. And I knew the certain penalty was wrong. That’s hard, because it made it first and five that led to their first score [of the second half]. That’s happened one other time. I just wanted them to hear me. You can’t do that.”
NFL EVP Telegraphed Justin Strnad Fine
GettyJustin Strnad #40 of the Denver Broncos reacts against the New York Jets.
Like Moss, whose unnecessary roughness penalty was sure to draw a fine, Strnad’s comes as little surprise. In one key way, it is even less surprising.
Strnad had an interaction with referee Brad Allen before Greenlaw confronted the latter.
“There was some contact with, I think it was Justin, No. 40, and each one of those are just isolated,” NFL executive vice president of football operations
Strnad, on a one-year, $2.8 million contract
NFL Made Example Out of Dre Greenlaw
Vincent presented the idea that the league was using Greenlaw as an example, suspending him and not Strnad, for not only their NFL brethren, but also future generations of pros. Greenlaw’s use of “abusive” and “threatening language” was the basis for his suspension.
Greenlaw was not fined for the incident. However, his suspension was without pay.
“There’s just no place no no place in the game for that,” Vincent told Florio. “Also, I think it’s part of the message that the NFL wants to send to all lower levels of sport. We’ve seen incidents postgame at the youth level between coaches and officials. We don’t need that to happen. And I think if you take a strong stand with the Dre Greenlaw, maybe – maybe – it sends a message to the other.”
Greenlaw can return to the field in Week 9, when the Broncos will visit the Houston Texans, who are 2-4 entering Week 8.
