If it had been any Packers player who had suffered a torn ACL in the final week of the 2024 season, it could be fairly well expected that the player would likely not appear in a game in 2025, unless a surprising late-year run could be OK’d.
But when that player is Christian Watson, whose career has been defined by flashes of talent cropping up between significant injuries, it becomes all the more difficult to imagine him back on the field. Watson played 15 games last year but was mostly ineffective and caught just 29 passes. In all, he has missed 13 of 51 games in his career, and missed last year’s playoff matchup.
Watson, though, is pushing back on the notion he will miss all of 2025.
“From my understanding with the advancements of medicine, we’re really open to looking at a nine-month window,” Watson told reporters this week at training camp. “They’ve been transparent with me and I’ve been transparent with them about how I’m feeling. If I’m able to get to that 100 percent mark of feeling really good then I think they’ll open me up.”
Christian Watson Out Until October, At Least
That still remains a longshot, though. It’s unclear what the plan is for Watson, but he is on the physically unable to perform list, which means he won’t practice in training camp. Assuming he stays there into the season, he would not be eligible to play in the Packers’ first four games.
The team has a Week 5 bye, which means the earliest Watson could be back on the field is in Week7, on October 12 vs. the Bengals. That fits Watson’s potential nine-month window.
Packers WR Room Is Crowded
Watson certainly has motivation to come back as soon as possible. Once considered the likely future No. 1 wide receiver on the roster, he has tumbled hard down the team’s depth chart, and might well be in danger of being cut if not for the injury.
The Packers drafted Matthew Golden in the first round this season, and still have Romeo Doubs as a potential No. 1 receiver. Jayden Reed is also a starting-caliber receiver. Green Bay also used a third-round pick on TCU’s Savion Williams, and still has Dontayvion Wicks expecting a bounce-back year after struggling as a sophomore. Malik Heath remains a reliable depth piece.
That’s six receivers. It’s hard to imagine the Packers wanting to carry seven. But Watson’s injury allows him to stay put.
Packers Unlikely to Bring Watson Back Long-Term
Watson is also entering the final year of his contract, which is certainly a consideration for him, and a motivation to get back on the field. He is slated to be paid nearly $3 million this season, but is a free agent next winter. Watson needs to be on the field to build back some value.
If he does add some value, it probably won’t be the Packers who pay him next year.
Watson added that he has been adding some muscle, and hopes to play at about 218 pounds, up from 212 last year.
“I want to play a little bit bigger this year as long as I feel like I’m still holding on to my speed and everything, which I feel like I have been so far,” Watson said. “With an injury like this you want to come back stronger than you were before so you can prevent anything like that from happening again.”
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