There has been a good amount of pressure on Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson since he made it to the NFL. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Watson was part of a youth movement in Green Bay at wide receiver to help replace star Davante Adams.
Adams, who had a contract dispute with the Packers, was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. That left Green Bay in need of some playmakers at the position and Watson was the first major addition.
It was easy to see what the Packers liked about the North Dakota State product. He possessed a tantalizing combination of size and speed, having the look of someone who could be a gamebreaker at the next level.
There have certainly been flashes of No. 1 receiver potential for Watson in two seasons. In a four-week span as a rookie, he caught 15 passes for 313 yards and seven touchdowns. In his sophomore season, he had another four touchdowns in a three-game stretch, showcasing his dominance.
Unfortunately, those flashes haven’t turned to consistency yet because of injuries. Watson has played in only 23 games in two seasons dealing with a multitude of hamstring ailments. He started the 2023 season sidelined and ended it the same way, missing three games, playing in nine and then missing the final five before returning for the postseason in a limited capacity.
Getting Watson healthy and keeping him on the field is key for the Packers in 2024. Head coach Matt LaFleur offered up a positive update on the status of Watson, who has had a strong start to the offseason program.
“He looks great,” LaFleur said, via Zach Kruse of Packers Wire. “He’s had a really good start to the offseason. We just gotta keep it going that way.”
Having Watson on the field makes things easier for everyone on the Packers offense. He has shown improvement as a red zone weapon for Jordan Love to target and his ability to take the top off the defense opens things up for players such as Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs to work underneath.
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