Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is believed to have torn his ACL and suffered additional injuries that will not only sideline him for the playoffs but also put the start of his 2025 season at risk, according to multiple reports.
Watson was injured in Sunday’s regular season finale loss to the Chicago Bears. He suffered a non-contact injury in his right knee during the second quarter. He immediately went to the medical tent before being carted back to the locker room with his head in his hand.
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After the game, coach Matt LaFleur said when asked about the severity of Watson’s injury, “I’m not super confident about that right now.”
The third-year wide receiver finished the year with 620 yards and two touchdowns on 29 receptions. His 21.4 yards per catch rank second in the league behind Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce. Injuries have been part of Watson’s history in the NFL — he’s missed 13 games over his three seasons.
With Watson out, Green Bay will need a healthy Doubs — as well as Bo Melton or Dontayvion Wicks — to step up alongside Jayden Reed as quarterback Jordan Love’s primary options at wide receiver. The Packers have also leaned heavily on running back Josh Jacobs, who finished sixth in the NFL in rushing with 1,329 yards.
Green Bay will take on Philadelphia in the wild-card round on Sunday, Jan. 12, at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox.
How the injury impacts Watson, Packers
Watson’s injury comes at quite the inopportune time for both him and the Packers. For Watson, it threatens his contract year in 2025, the fourth season of the 2022 second-round pick’s rookie deal.
Watson had battled soft-tissue injuries in his first two seasons before seeing a specialist after the 2023 season and fixing his hamstrings. In 2024, he only missed two games with ankle and knee injuries, both of which stemmed from opponents falling on him awkwardly in Week 4 and Week 16. Watson played Sunday against the Bears despite logging two DNPs and one limited practice during the week, largely because Doubs was inactive with an illness. Watson’s latest injury is to his right knee, while his Week 16 injury was to his left knee.
For the Packers, they lose their biggest game-breaking wide receiver. Watson takes the top off a defense better than anyone else the team has and has been rock solid catching the ball this season. In 15 games, Watson averaged 21.4 yards per catch on 29 receptions and only dropped two passes. Coaches and teammates have raved about his on-field prowess while complimenting how he handled low-usage moments off it earlier in the season. — Matt Schneidman, Packers beat writer
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(Photo: John Fisher/ Getty Images)
