Packers’ ‘gazelle’ Christian Watson reaching another level since return from injury – The Athletic
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Christian Watson couldn’t avoid thinking about what happened last time the Green Bay Packers hosted the Chicago Bears.
Eleven months ago, he crumbled around the 50-yard line without contact early in the second quarter of the regular-season finale, clutching his right knee in agony on the Lambeau Field grass as he covered his face with his left hand.
On Sunday, Watson’s reactions were quite the opposite against the Bears. He was Griddy-ing, Lambeau Leap-ing and high-fiving fans and teammates alike with a mile-wide smile. From torn ACL to explosive piece on a Super Bowl contender, Watson continues proving why, even after such a significant injury, this may be the best version of him we’ve seen.
In the Packers’ 28-21 win that catapulted them atop the NFC North at 9-3-1, Watson caught four passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He’s found the end zone five times in the last four games. The Packers may not have a true No. 1 receiver, but Watson looks like the closest thing to it down the home stretch.
“It means a lot to me, for sure,” Watson said postgame. “Honestly, I tried not to think about it that much, but as the game was kind of getting going, it was definitely creeping in my mind a little bit. I’m just so thankful and blessed to be able to do what I do, and I’m glad that today panned out how it did.”
Watson first played in a game this season exactly nine months and three weeks after tearing his ACL on Jan. 5. He’s a physical marvel, not only for that, but also in how he makes defenses look foolish on the field. His Moss-ing of New York Giants cornerback Korie Black for the game-winning touchdown in Week 11, his 51-yard haul over Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson into the end zone on Thanksgiving and his 41-yard slant-and-score while breezing past Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Sunday are just some recent examples.
On the last play, quarterback Jordan Love called an audible at the line of scrimmage after identifying that the Bears were in man coverage. Watson cooked Gardner-Johnson on a slant from in between the hashes and numbers on the right side of the offensive formation. He caught the ball at the 34-yard line with a step or two on Gardner-Johnson and the Bears in a single-high-safety defense. The rest was history.
According to Next Gen Stats, Watson clocked at 21.6 miles per hour as he glided into the end zone to give the Packers a two-score lead midway through the third quarter. That was the 15th-fastest maximum speed of any player this season and sixth-fastest of any wide receiver, according to NGS. Head coach Matt LaFleur said he’d love to run more of those plays for Watson, but it’s hard when teams are playing cloud or quarters coverages. Watson burning his man was the second time Sunday he devoured one-on-one coverage with speed for a touchdown, the first coming against potential All-Pro safety Kevin Byard for a 23-yard score in the second quarter as the Bears sent seven at Love and Watson ran a post route from in between the hashes and numbers on the left side.
“That man’s different,” wide receiver/cornerback Bo Melton said. “Everybody know that in this locker room. He’s the gazelle, man. That man 6-4 and runs a 4.1. It’s hard to cover the man. Just to see him out there and just to see him happy and playing and him being healthy and all that, I thank God for that because he works so hard. That’s a hard worker, and at the end of the day, he’s blessed with the abilities, but he works hard for it. I love to see when he shines. Love to see when anyone shines in this locker room, but love to see Christian, for sure.”
Since returning against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8, Watson has 452 receiving yards, which rank tied for 11th in the NFL over those seven weeks. His 18.1 yards per catch during that stretch rank fourth. His five touchdown catches rank tied for fourth. His expected points added per target rank fourth, according to TruMedia.
In other words, a guy fresh off ACL rehab has been one of the NFL’s best wide receivers over the past two months.
“We’ve all watched him during rehab and things like that throughout the offseason and training camp to be able to get back,” Love said. “I think he’s just playing at a really high level right now. We talked in the locker room after. This game meant a lot to him for that reason. For him to be able to come out healthy and obviously have two big-time touchdown catches and make some other big-time plays, I think since he’s been back, he’s just been making play after play and been playing at a really high level.”
An even higher level than before he tore his ACL?
“Definitely,” Love said. “I definitely think so.”
Christian Watson celebrates with Packers fans after beating the Bears on Sunday at Lambeau Field.(Patrick McDermott / Getty Images)
Before Watson even returned to practice in early October, the Packers inked him to a one-year extension the month prior. According to Over The Cap, the deal was worth $11 million with a shade over $6 million guaranteed. For Watson, it provided financial stability and peace of mind coming off a major injury in a contract year. For the Packers, it provided a cushion for their pockets in 2026 if Watson exploded — like he’s doing.
Now Watson won’t hit the open market, where he’d surely command a higher price tag for the 2026 season than he’s currently making. Even so, the Packers might have to revisit the negotiating table soon to secure Watson long term. If the past two months are any indication of what’s to come post-injury, the Packers need him in Green Bay for both now and the foreseeable future.
“He’s a dynamic player, and we’ve got to continue to find ways to get him the ball,” LaFleur said. “What happened a year ago versus the Chicago Bears and how he’s responded and how he’s worked to get himself into a spot now where you go out and you see what he can do, I’ve got a lot of love and a lot of respect for Christian Watson.”
