Matt LaFleur opens up about Christian Watson's return from serious knee injury, and it reveals how the Packers view his role
The worst part about Christian Watson's injury is the timing. Not only did he miss he playoffs last season, but the explosive wide receiver got injured late in the regular season, in January, which will inevitably affect his 2025 season as well.During the offseason program, Watson was in Green Bay and showed clear progress, moving […]
The worst part about Christian Watson's injury is the timing. Not only did he miss he playoffs last season, but the explosive wide receiver got injured late in the regular season, in January, which will inevitably affect his 2025 season as well.
During the offseason program, Watson was in Green Bay and showed clear progress, moving well and doing stretch periods with his teammates, even though he can't participate in individual drills or team periods whatsoever.
After the final mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday, head coach Matt LaFleur was asked if seeing him moving like that gives the staff any hope about an earlier return, LaFleur was honest.
"Probably not, to be honest," LaFleur admitted. "The guys that are available, that's who you coach and that's kind of where you focus. 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."
Christian Watson got hurt in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears, on January 5. Usually, those types of injury take around ten months for the player to be available in the NFL. That would mean an early November comeback, still better than a projection Christian's father shared during the offseason, which would be more like late November.
Right now, it's impossible to know for sure how the recovery will progress. However, LaFleur expects that the offense will eventually get better when the deep threat is finally ready to play.
"He will give us a boost whenever that is," LaFleur added. "Whenever he comes back, I expect him to give us a boost."
Even though Watson had more receptions and touchdowns as a rookie, last year was actually his best season in terms of receiving yards. He finished the season with 28 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns. In 2025, Watson enters the final year of his rookie deal.
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