On Wednesday, the Packers pulled off something of a surprise by handing wide receiver Christian Watson a contract extension. Of course, two years ago, a move like that would not have been a surprise at all, not with Watson’s blazing speed and the way he was trending toward being the team’s future WR1.
But after trouble with his hamstring limited him to nine games in 2023, he appeared to take a back seat in 2024 to the likes of Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs. On January 5 in the season finale against the Bears, Watson’s situation crumbled, as he suffered a torn ACL.
Then, in the 2025 draft, the Packers broke tradition and picked Matthew Golden in the first round, their first time doing so with a receiver in two decades. It appeared at the time that Watson’s Green Bay career might be over.
But instead, the Packers kept him and put him on the physically unable to perform list, allowing him stay with the team without counting against the 53-man roster limit. The team intends to see him back on the field this year.
When Can Christian Watson Play Again Under NFL Rules?
Simply put: mid-October at the earliest, late November at the latest.
Because he is on the PUP, the Packers cannot get Watson back on the field in the first four weeks of the season. So September 28 against the Cowboys is the final game in which Watson can’t play. After that, the Packers have a bye in Week 5, so Watson’s earliest return would be in Week 6 against Cincinnati, on October 12.
Typically, an ACL tear takes between nine and 12 months for a return. Returning for Week 6 would be in that window, but it would be on the very early side.
On the late side, the Packers have five weeks to keep Watson on the PUP without practicing once the four weeks have expired. That takes us to Week 9. Once Watson returns to practice the Packers have three weeks to activate him. So the Packers must get him back on the roster in time for Week 13 at Detroit on Thanksgiving.
How Has Christian Watson’s Rehab Gone?
The Packers have been very optimistic when talking about Watson, which is certainly a positive but does not mean much at this point. Matt LaFleur has said of Watson’s recovery, “It is exciting to see how far along he is, he’s been doing a great job, he attacks it the right way. Our trainers have done an outstanding job with him. I think he’s in the best spot possible considering the circumstance.”
Watson has had confidence in his knee, too, and says he can run at full speed. Taking contact and pivoting is another story, but he claimed last month to still be the fastest man on the team. ” I’ll race anybody right now and I’m still taking the dub,” he said.
Again, talk does not matter until it is time to play. Watson can return to practice
Why Did the Packers Extend an Injured Player?
Despite all of this, the extension was a surprise–sort of.
In the end, the deal amounts to a low-risk gamble for the Packers. It is a short commitment, only a one-year deal worth $13 million at maximum, but with only $6 million guaranteed. For Watson, who is unsure of the future, it’s a solid guarantee that he will get another sizable NFL paycheck.
For the Packers, it keeps Watson out of the free-agent pool. If Watson returns in November and has 100 yards and a touchdown every game to close the season, Green Bay will still have control of him for next season. If Watson is just too banged up to play and does not get better as the season progresses, he could be cut next season and the team would only have to eat $6 million of the deal.
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