The Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) head to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears (10-4) in a pivotal NFL Week 16 Saturday night showdown with NFC North ramifications. Kickoff is slated for 7:20 p.m. CT on Saturday, December 20, 2025. With both clubs battling through injuries and jockeying for divisional positioning, this storied rivalry — Chicago vs. Green Bay — carries added weight late in the season.
Game Preview
This Week 16 NFC North matchup features a pair of teams with contrasting storylines. The Bears, leading the division at 10-4, have surged thanks to a stingy defense and emerging offensive pieces around quarterback Caleb Williams. The Packers, at 9-4-1, are looking to reclaim first place and build momentum with a road win in a hostile Soldier Field environment. Recent history adds intrigue: Green Bay won the first meeting this season at Lambeau in Week 14.
Green Bay’s offense, led by Jordan Love, has shown creativity but has also struggled to stay healthy, a narrative that continues into Week 16. Meanwhile, Chicago’s offensive scheme under Ben Johnson has adapted to injuries but now faces key personnel losses that could shift the trajectory of Saturday’s affair.
Week 16 Injury Reports
Here’s the latest Week 16 injury report for both teams as of December 19, 2025:
Green Bay Packers Injury Report
OUT
RB MarShawn Lloyd – calf/hamstring
TE Josh Whyle – concussion
G John Williams – back
QUESTIONABLE
RB Josh Jacobs – knee/ankle - DNP
WR Christian Watson – chest/shoulder - LP
RT Zach Tom – back/knee - DNP
OT Darian Kinnard – neck
WR Dontayvion Wicks – ankle - LP
RB Chris Brooks – chest
S Evan Williams – knee - DNP
DE Kingsley Enagbare – illness
DL Brenton Cox Jr. – groin
DL Collin Oliver – hamstring
Chicago Bears Injury Report
OUT
WR Rome Odunze – foot.
WR Luther Burden III – ankle - DNP
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga – hamstring.
QUESTIONABLE
RB D’Andre Swift – groin - LP
TE Cole Kmet – ankle/knee - FP
LB Tremaine Edmunds – groin - FP
DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka – personal matter - DNP
Injury Impact: How Health Shapes This NFC North Clash
Packers: Depth Tested on Both Sides
Green Bay enters Week 16 with more than a handful of questionable players on both offense and defense. Most notable is Christian Watson, who practiced this week after a scary chest/shoulder injury sustained against the Broncos and is aiming to play despite limited reps in practice. His availability could elevate the Packers’ passing attack, which has taken hits all season long.
On the ground, Josh Jacobs’ knee issue remains a concern, though he has pushed to play in recent weeks — a bell-cow back at full strength would be critical for Green Bay’s balance against a physical Bears defense.
Defensively, losing key personnel like safety Evan Williams (MCL sprain) and dealing with rotational absences in the trenches tests the Packers’ ability to contain Chicago’s run schemes and apply pressure consistently.
Bears: Key Playmakers Missing
Chicago’s offense will be without its top two receivers, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III, creating a substantial vacuum in deep threat and YAC production. Odunze leads the Bears in splash plays, and Burden has emerged as a reliable target; their absences force adjustments in route concepts and quarterback reads.
If D’Andre Swift (groin) is unable to go or is limited, Chicago’s run game — a key counterbalance when the passing attack is constrained — loses one of its most versatile weapons. That could make the Bears more one-dimensional and easier for a beleaguered but opportunistic Packers defense to game plan against.
Meanwhile, limited availability or heavy usage of veteran pieces like Cole Kmet or Tremaine Edmunds affects situational execution, especially in short-yardage scenarios and third-down conversions.
Pro Football Doc, Dr. David Chao Injury Insights and Player Edge Projections
Josh Jacobs - Knee
Josh Jacobs is dealing with a knee issue. He’s been on the injury report and has been playing through it, including having MRIs that showed no structural damage. He’s had DNPs before and still played through, and with this being a big game, I expect him to continue to play.
Josh Jacobs has a -32.1% SIC Player Edge projection which reflects the health of Jacobs, the Packers Rush Offense and the Bears Rush Defense therefore we expect him to be UNDER his projected rushing prop and DFS points.
Christian Watson - Chest/Shoulder
Christian Watson, on the other hand, is unlikely to play. It appears to be an SC joint, or sternoclavicular joint, injury. He went to the hospital, and while it wasn’t displaced, he could technically play through it, but it is very sore and would likely require an injection. Given the proximity to major arteries in the chest area, the Packers are likely to be conservative, which aligns with their medical history of not injecting players just to get them on the field. In the big picture, that’s probably a good thing, so expect Watson to be out.
Christian Watson has a -10.5% SIC Player Edge projection which reflects the health of Watson, the Packers Pass Offense and the Bears Pass Defense therefore we expect him to be UNDER his projected receiving prop and DFS points.
D'Andre Swift - Groin
D’Andre Smith of the Bears has been dealing with a groin issue for several weeks, including last week, and he played through it effectively. We expect to see more of the same.
Swift has a +5.2% SIC Player Edge projection which reflects the health of Jacobs, the Beras Rush Offense and the Packers Rush Defense therefore we expect him to be OVER his projected rushing prop and DFS points.
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