Christian Watson missed the first game of the 2023 season for the Green Bay Packers with a hamstring injury. In Wednesday’s practice, he had a helmet during stretching, but when the team went outside to practice, he worked off the side to rehab his hamstring injury. That is more preparation than what he did last week.
Watson is hoping to be available for the Packers this Sunday on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. This is a good first step in getting him back on the playing field this weekend. Hopefully, he can actually step on the practice field on Thursday to get reps with the first team and Jordan Love in order to prepare for Sunday’s matchup. They hope he is closer to the playing field rather than going on injured reserve.
Green Bay is hoping whenever he steps on the field that, he will contribute to them in a big way. Christian Watson, entering the season, was the number one wide receiver ahead of Romeo Doubs. Doubs caught four passes for 26 yards receiving and two touchdowns this past Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Rookie Jayden Reed is the current third receiver on the roster.
Last year, Watson had issues with his right hamstring as well and had to miss three games over a five-week span because of it.
Christian Watson told Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated earlier this week:
“No one here is Superman, so you’ve got to let the body run its course.”
He was also out on the field during pregame warmups against the Bears and passed on this message to the receivers before the game:
“Just go out there and be you. Every single guy is there for a reason. Whether you’re undrafted or second round, mid-round it don’t matter. You’re here now. So just go out there and be you.”
Christian Watson Is Eager To Playing This Weekend for the Packers On the road Against the Atlanta Falcons
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
This is the second consecutive game that the Packers will be on the road to start the 2023 regular season. Green Bay is looking to gain another offensive weapon back with Watson at the wide receiver position. If he is able to do what he needs to for the rest of the week leading up to GameDay, then he has a pretty good chance to play.
If he doesn’t, then it will be another week with him sidelined for Green Bay and have Romeo Doubs as the number one receiving option again, with Jayden Reed as the number two option. Christian Watson told Huber:
“Just watching the tape back and watching the game yesterday, I was dying to steal somebody’s pads, steal somebody’s helmet and get out there. I’m excited to get out there and be a part of it, regardless of what exactly my role is coming back right away, I know what I’m capable of and I’m hoping that it’s a big part of this thing.”
Watson does have chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love, and so does Romeo Doubs. This is what could potentially make the Packers offense very dangerous. Christian Watson has that home run ability. If he does indeed return for this offense this weekend, expect him to be a big part of the offensive game plan.
A season ago, Watson caught 41 passes for 611 yards receiving and seven touchdowns and averaged 14.9 yards per catch. Whenever he gets back onto the playing field, Christian Watson hopes to break those numbers for a season in year two also.
