The Green Bay Packers will be without one of their key players, wide receiver Christian Watson, due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Watson’s injury was confirmed by head coach Matt LaFleur on Monday, following an incident during the second quarter of a tightly contested game against the Chicago Bears, which the Packers lost 24-22. Watson was seen being carted off to the locker room, raising concerns about his availability for the postseason.
This injury is particularly impactful as Watson serves as a significant deep threat for the Packers (11-6) as they prepare to face the NFC East champions, the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), in the wild-card round this upcoming Sunday. During the current season, he compiled impressive stats with 29 receptions for 620 yards and two touchdowns, marking a strong performance for a second-round draft pick from North Dakota State in 2022.
Coach LaFleur expressed his empathy for Watson, emphasizing not only the implications for the team but also the personal loss for Watson, who has dedicated immense effort to the sport. “I hurt for him,” LaFleur stated. “You never want to see that.” He also mentioned uncertainty regarding the practice limitations of quarterbacks Jordan Love and Malik Willis as they both dealt with injuries during the Bears game.
Love exited the game due to what the team described as an elbow injury and reported losing feeling in his throwing hand; however, he reassured that he anticipates being ready for the Eagles matchup. Meanwhile, Love noted that he participated in warmup throws while Willis experienced a hand issue of his own. LaFleur conveyed that he had spoken with both players and remains optimistic about their status for practice, stating, “They seem to be doing alright.” He indicated that they would evaluate their readiness over the next couple of days.
Watson suffered his injury while running a route with no contact, causing him to immediately grasp his right knee. This setback follows an earlier issue where Watson missed the Packers’ previous game against Minnesota due to an injury on his left knee. Despite that setback, he had practiced in a limited capacity before the Bears game. LaFleur mentioned that Watson had expressed eagerness to play provided he could practice that week, leading to discussions about managing his playing time.
The receiving corps has faced challenges, especially with Romeo Doubs sidelined due to illness. However, LaFleur confirmed that Doubs is now recovering. Watson’s career has been plagued with injuries, mostly hamstring problems, but he managed to play in a career-high 15 games this season after participating in only nine games the previous year due to his past issues. This latest injury is the most severe challenge he has faced in his professional career.
“I know he’ll attack it the right way,” LaFleur remarked. “He’ll handle the adversity. It will just be a bump in the road for him. I think he’ll come back better, that’s just how he is built. That’s how he’s wired.” The Packers will now have to adapt their strategy as they look towards the playoffs without one of their most dynamic players.
