Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson tore his ACL in Week 18 of the 2024-2025 season against the Chicago Bears. With Watson having bad injury luck throughout his NFL career, many are wondering if Watson is going to be able to contribute at all during the 2025 NFL season.
During the 2024 season, Watson caught 29 passes for 620 yards receiving and two touchdowns, along with averaging 21.4 yards per reception. He was targeted 53 times a season ago. Watson is 25 years old and he is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst Provides Major Christian Watson Update During Owners’ Meetings
The Packers general manager, Brian Gutekunst spoke to the media about many different topics during the owners’ meetings. One of the interesting topics he was asked was about whether or not Watson is going to be able to play at all during the 2025 season after tearing his ACL in early January.
Gutekunst said to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic,
“I wouldn’t count him out just because I know his work ethic and how he approaches things. Certainly, it won’t shock me at all if he’s a big factor for us this season, but at the same time, as you said, we have to make sure we’re protecting him.”
The general manager expects him to miss the first half of the 2025 NFL season, but there is a chance that he could return for the second half of the 2025 NFL season. Watson is going to try to play at some point during the 2025 NFL season.
However, the Packers did sign Mecole Hardman Jr. this offseason at wide receiver. They made no other moves at the position this offseason.
Potential Draft Candidates
With Green Bay not having a true number one wide receiver on the roster and with Watson not being able to get into that role, there is a chance that the Packers can draft a wide receiver in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Emeka Egbuka of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Matthew Golden of the Texas Longhorns, and Luther Burden III of the Missouri Tigers are some potential names to watch for entering the draft process.
Green Bay usually drafts wide receivers in the second round of the NFL Draft. It has been a while since the Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft. Even if Gutekunst is positive that Watson will return at some point in 2025, Gutekunst needs to find a top-tier wide receiver for quarterback Jordan Love also.
