When healthy, Christian Watson is arguably the most explosive playmaker in the Green Bay Packers’ offense. His combination of size, speed, and playmaking ability makes him a unique threat—not just when he has the ball, but also in how he forces defenses to adjust, creating opportunities for teammates underneath.
Unfortunately, Watson tore his ACL in the final week of the 2024 regular season against the Chicago Bears. His father has indicated that he’s targeting a return sometime in the second half of the 2025 season. Until then, head coach Matt LaFleur will need to find ways to replicate the impact of Watson’s vertical speed, whether that means using other players to stretch the field or designing plays that mimic the space he typically creates.
“Christian is doing outstanding,” LaFleur said. “I’d say he’s ahead of schedule, but I’m not a doctor, so we’ll see where he’s at.”
Injuries have been a recurring issue for Watson throughout his NFL career. While he started a personal best of 15 games in 2024, he only had nine starts in 2023 and 11 as a rookie. Altogether, he’s missed 13 games in three seasons. Despite that, his presence noticeably elevates Green Bay’s offense, both in rhythm and explosiveness.
The 2025 campaign is a pivotal one for Watson, as it marks the final year of his rookie contract. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. LaFleur has consistently praised Watson—not just for his talent, but also for his character—which shows how much the organization values him. Still, given his injury history, it’s unlikely the Packers would consider a contract extension unless he proves he can stay healthy for a full season.
Watson’s recovery progress is promising, but given the severity of the injury and his importance to the team, the Packers are expected to proceed cautiously. They likely won’t bring him back until he’s fully cleared every stage of the rehab process and there’s confidence he can return without risk of re-injury.