Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson help Packers withstand absence of other receivers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is thriving even with some of his favorite targets unavailable.

Christian Watson’s reliability and Dontayvion Wicks’ emergence have much to do with that.

Love continued his history of devouring defenses on Thanksgiving Day and kept the Packers in the thick of NFC North title contention by throwing four touchdown passes without an interception in a 31-24 victory that completed their regular-season sweep of the two-time defending division champion Detroit Lions.

The Packers (8-3-1) are a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears (9-3), who won 24-15 at Philadelphia on Friday. The Packers host the Bears on Dec. 7, their third straight game against a divisional opponent.

“You’ve got to come in and win these games and try to control your own destiny by winning out,” Love said.

Love has thrown nine touchdown passes without an interception in Thanksgiving victories over the last three seasons. His latest feast came on a day when Green Bay was missing injured tight end Tucker Kraft and receivers Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden and Savion Williams.

Kraft will miss the rest of the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament on Nov. 2. Reed, the Packers’ leading receiver last year, is nearing his return after being out since mid-September to recover from surgeries to his foot and shoulder.

Green Bay’s offense had been inconsistent lately due in part to those injuries, but Thursday’s game showcased the Packers’ upside.

“We’ve got dogs,” Watson said. “We’ve got some playmakers. We’re only going to get better and better as we get everybody back, so I’m excited to see it when everybody gets back.”

Watson and Wicks were the top dogs Thursday.

Watson had four catches for 80 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown early in the second half. Although he has played only six games since returning from a torn ACL, Watson already has more touchdown catches (three) than he had last season (two). His 21 receptions are approaching his 2024 total of 29 in 15 games.

Wicks matched career highs with seven catches and two touchdowns, and his 94 yards receiving were three off his career best. Wicks sealed the victory by leaping and stretching his arms to make a remarkable 16-yard catch on fourth-and-3, a notable achievement for someone who had struggled with drops earlier in his career.

“He’s always had the talent,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “Obviously you want to go attack the ball aggressively, I think that can help eliminate a lot of drops. And I know a lot of great receivers that have struggled with drops and then overcame that. … He’s got great hands. He’s a natural plucker of the football, and so it’s never like a lack of confidence in him. I’ve never wavered. I can speak for myself and our staff, we’ve never wavered on his ability.”