Sep 18, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins (11) picks up 14 yards on a reception during the fourth quarter of their game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Report: Packers release veteran WR Sammy Watkins

The Green Bay Packers released wide receiver Sammy Watkins prior to Monday night’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, ESPN reported.

The 29-year-old veteran appeared in nine games and caught 13 passes for 206 yards and zero touchdowns. He has not had a reception since Week 10.

The Packers (5-8) are expected to have rookie wideout Romeo Doubs back from an ankle injury, giving them a full complement of receivers with Christian Watson, Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard.

Watkins signed a one-year, $1.85 million deal with the Packers in April and now will go on waivers.

Watkins has 361 receptions for 5,265 yards and 34 touchdowns in 108 career games (94 starts) with the Buffalo Bills (2014-16), Rams (2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2018-20), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Packers.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2022; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins (11) stiff arms Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson (4) while picking  up 14 yards on a reception during the fourth quarter of their game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Packers activate WR Sammy Watkins off IR

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sammy Watkins returned to practice Wednesday after missing the past four games with a hamstring injury.

The Packers designated Watkins for return from injured reserve, activating his 21-day practice window to be added to the 53-man roster. The team said Watkins would be limited on Wednesday. Watkins was injured in Week 2 and placed on injured reserve on Sept. 24.

It’s unclear if he’ll play on Sunday when the Packers (3-3) visit the Washington Commanders (2-4).

“We’ll see where he’s at,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur told reporters. “I don’t think anybody’s ready to say he’ll be ready to play this week.”

Watkins, 29, had six receptions for 111 yards in two games, both starts.

He has 354 catches for 5,170 yards and 34 touchdowns in 101 games with the Buffalo Bills (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2018-20), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Packers.

Randall Cobb is set to miss two to four weeks with an ankle sprain, and fellow wideout Christian Watson is still nursing a hamstring injury.

Tight end Robert Tonyan (27 receptions) and wide receiver Romeo Doubs (26) are the Packers’ top receivers. Allen Lazard leads in yards (285) and touchdowns (four).

–Field Level Media

Sammy Watkins, a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers and graduate of South Fort Myers High School participates in a youth football camp that bears his name at South Fort Myers High School on Thursday, July 14, 2022.

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Packers WR Sammy Watkins (hamstring) cleared to practice

Green Bay Packers Sammy Watkins practiced Friday after being removed from the non-football injury list.

The 29-year-old veteran missed the first two practices of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Watkins signed a one-year contract in April worth $1.85 million with just $350,000 guaranteed.

He had 27 catches for 394 yards and one touchdown in 13 games (nine starts) for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.

A first-round pick (fourth overall) by Buffalo in 2014, Watkins has 348 receptions for 5,059 yards and 34 scores in 99 games (91 starts) with the Bills (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2018-20) and Ravens.

–Field Level Media

Oct 11, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) participates in warmups prior to the Ravens' game against the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Report: WR Sammy Watkins to visit Packers

Free agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins is visiting the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, NFL Network reported.

The Packers are looking to boost their depth at wide receiver after two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders on March 18.

Watkins, 28, will bid to rebound after a difficult season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021. He posted career lows in catches (27), receiving yards (394) and touchdowns (one).

Watkins has 348 catches for 5,509 yards and 34 touchdowns in 99 career games with the Buffalo Bills (2014-16), Los Angeles Rams (2017), Kansas City Chiefs (2018-20) and Ravens. He was selected by the Bills with the fourth overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 5, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) runs after a catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field.Pittsburgh won 20-19.  Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Sammy Watkins out, Lamar Jackson unlikely vs. Packers

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Chris Westry were put on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday night and will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

Further, NFL Network reported that quarterback Lamar Jackson is not expected to play, paving the way for Brett Huntley to start. Jackson missed his third straight practice Friday.

Watkins is fourth on the Ravens with 394 yards receiving on 27 receptions. He has one touchdown.

Jackson suffered an ankle sprain in last week’s loss to the Cleveland Browns. He is officially questionable. Jackson left last Sunday’s game early in the second quarter after being taken down on a blitz from Cleveland linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, did not return to the game after moving to the sideline under his own power and being carted to the locker room.

Things are worse in the defensive secondary. In addition to Westry, safety Chuck Clark did not clear COVID protocol and is out Sunday, meaning the entire Ravens’ starting secondary to start the season is sidelined.

The Ravens (8-5) are clinging to a one-game lead in the AFC North. The Packers (10-3) are the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Latavius Murray (28) carries the ball as Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (97) defends during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens’ Latavius Murray, Sammy Watkins ruled out

The Baltimore Ravens will be missing at least two offensive starters for a key AFC North battle against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. Running back Latavius Murray and wide receiver Sammy Watkins have both been ruled out after not practicing this week.

Devonta Freeman projects as the likely starter at running back, while rookie Rashod Bateman, who got 45 snaps and six targets last week, should see lots of time filling in for Watkins.

An eight-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler, Freeman has rushed for 95 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown this season in a reserve role.

Murray, 31, leads all Ravens running backs with 212 yards on 59 rushes (3.6 per carry) with four touchdowns, while Watkins, 28, averages a team-leading 16.2 yards on his 18 receptions (292 yards).

In other injury news, two offensive linemen, Bradley Bozeman and Alejandro Villanueva, are both listed as questionable after being limited in practice Thursday and Friday, while linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback Tavon Young are also questionable.

The Bengals, on the other hand, look healthy coming into the matchup, with only cornerback Jalen Davis and defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin (both backups) listed as questionable.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) against the Las Vegas Raiders during Monday Night Football at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens WR Sammy Watkins ruled out vs. Chargers

Sammy Watkins’ loss apparently will be Rashod Bateman’s gain.

Watkins is going to miss the Baltimore Ravens’ home game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, opening the door for Bateman to make his NFL debut.

After injuring his hamstring in Monday night’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, Watkins missed practice all week and has been ruled out of Sunday’s contest. He is third on the Ravens in both catches (18) and receiving yards (292).

“He could be back next week. He could be back the week after,” coach John Harbaugh said Friday. “It just depends on how quickly the hamstring heals.”

The timing of Watkins’ injury creates an opportunity for Bateman to potentially see action in his first NFL game.

Harbaugh said he would “probably expect” Bateman, the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft, to play against the Chargers. The University of Minnesota product had offseason groin surgery and has spent the last three weeks working his way into game shape.

“I think we’re going to build him into the plan on a week-to-week basis,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “Rashod’s going to have a long and fruitful career. This is just the first step. We will integrate him into the plan when the time is right.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins (14) runs after a reception against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: WR Sammy Watkins to sign with Ravens

Three days after his free agent visit, wide receiver Sammy Watkins agreed to sign a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, according to multiple reports Friday.

The contract reportedly will pay Watkins $6 million for the 2021 season, with $5 million guaranteed.

The Ravens had not been shy about their free agency pursuits and hunt for a big-name wide receiver this offseason. The team already struck out after heavily pursuing wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, who re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and T.Y. Hilton, who re-upped with the Indianapolis Colts.

Watkins will reunite with Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who held the same title with the Buffalo Bills when Watkins recorded his only 1,000-yard campaign in 2015 with 1,047 receiving yards and registered a career-high nine scoring catches.

Baltimore marks Watkins’ fourth team as he enters his eighth NFL season.

The 27-year-old has played with his share of prolific passers, as Ravens starter Lamar Jackson, who made a Pro Bowl in 2019, has a chance to become Watkins’ fourth QB teammate to each the Pro Bowl. Watkins enjoyed a career year with the Bills’ Tyrod Taylor in 2015, teamed with Pro Bowler Jared Goff with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and played with three-time Pro Bowler Patrick Mahomes as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs the past thee seasons.

Watkins has struggled to stay healthy since being selected by the Bills with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft after a highly decorated college career at Clemson. He has played in more than 10 games in just four of his seven seasons.

Watkins recorded 37 receptions for a career-low 421 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games (nine starts) with the Chiefs last season. Winner of a Super Bowl ring after Kansas City’s title-winning 2019 season, he has 321 catches for 4,665 yards with 33 scores in 86 career games (82 starts) with the Bills (2014-16), Rams (2017) and Chiefs (2018-20).

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins (14) is tackled by New England Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson (27) during the third quarter of a NFL game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Report: WR Sammy Watkins to visit Ravens

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins will meet with the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday, NFL Network reported.

Joining the Ravens likely would serve both entities well. Baltimore is in need of an upgrade to its wide receiver corps, while Watkins likely would be in line for more playing time — provided he can avoid the injury bug that has plagued him throughout his career.

Watkins, 27, has struggled to stay healthy since being selected by the Buffalo Bills with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has missed multiple contests in a season in all but his rookie campaign.

Watkins recorded 37 receptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. He has 321 catches for 4,665 yards with 33 scores in 86 career games with the Los Angeles Rams, Bills and Chiefs.

The Ravens reportedly pursued JuJu Smith-Schuster before the wideout elected to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal last week.

Wideout Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews each had 58 receptions last season to lead Baltimore. Brown led the team in receiving yards (769) and receiving touchdowns (eight).

–Field Level Media