Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson help Packers' Jordan Love 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.”

The offensive line didn't allow a single sack of Love Thursday. ... LaFleur's daring approach paid off, with the Packers going for it on fourth down three times and converting each attempt. ... The Packers haven't committed a turnover during their three-game winning streak. They have only seven turnovers all season. ... The Packers have totaled five penalties over their last two games.

Detroit was winning the field-position battle early in the game because of some special-teams issues by Green Bay, which included allowing a 21-yard punt return. ... The Packers allowed Jared Goff to throw for 256 yards and two touchdowns without an interception even though Detroit lost All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown to an ankle injury early in the game.

Micah Parsons has recorded six sacks over his last three games to increase his season total to 12 1/2. ... Wicks' 94 yards receiving Thursday more than doubled his previous season high of 44 against Washington. His two touchdown catches were his first two of the year. ... Love hasn't thrown an interception over his last four games. ... Isaiah McDuffie recorded 12 tackles Thursday and has 31 over his last three games.

OL Jordan Morgan didn't play a single offensive snap Thursday with rookie second-round pick Anthony Belton taking his spot at right guard. Morgan, a 2024 first-round pick, had played every snap for three straight games before playing less than one-third of the snaps against Minnesota on Nov. 23.

DL Devonte Wyatt injured his ankle and isn't expected to return this season. “It doesn’t look good, guys,” LaFleur said. “I’m sick for him. I’m sick for us.” ... Golden (wrist), Williams (foot), DL Lukas Van Ness (foot), LB Quay Walker (neck), CB Nate Hobbs (knee) and DL Karl Brooks (ankle) didn't play.

12/5 — Parsons is the first player to have at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

The Packers and Bears face off in two of the next three weeks. They play at Lambeau Field on Dec. 7 and meet again in Chicago on Dec. 20. In between, Green Bay visits Denver on Dec. 14.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) holds the Madden Thanksgiving MVP trophy following an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs in for a touchdown on front of Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) celebrates a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) makes a catch in front of Detroit Lions safety Thomas Harper (12) for a touchdown during the first half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (13) and quarterback Jordan Love (10) against the Detroit Lions during the second half an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers and worship that often mark a spiritual peak for them. They fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplications. Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)