The Green Bay Packers will be without wide receiver Christian Watson for the start of the 2025 NFL season because of a torn ACL he suffered in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears. Watson will be entering the final season of his contract, and it is going to be interesting to see if he will be placed on injured reserve to start the season or not.
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
There is a chance that Watson could be cut or traded before the start of the 2025 NFL season. Green Bay made some moves at the wide receiver position this offseason. They signed Mecole Hardman Jr., and also drafted rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. The Packers will have some depth chart decisions to make about the wide receiver position before the 2025 NFL season begins.
Bleacher Report Writer Thinks That Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Christian Watson Could Be Traded
After the Dallas Cowboys traded for wide receiver George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2026 third-round selection, Matt Holder of bleacherreport.com wrote about six different wide receivers who could potentially be on the trade block next. One wide receiver that he listed who could be traded next is Watson of the Packers.
Holder listed five other wide receivers as well other than Watson. Holder said as to why the Packers could be shopping him,
“The Green Bay Packers made franchise history with the 23rd selection of the 2025 NFL Draft, using a first-round pick on a wide receiver for the first time in over 20 years. Former Texas wideout Matthew Golden turned heads at the NFL Combine with a 4.29-second 40-yard dash time, adding some speed to the Packers’ receiving corps.
Watson has been a vertical threat in Green Bay over the last three seasons, totaling over 1,600 yards and nearly 17 yards per catch, including 620 yards and 21.4 ypc in 2024.
However, the North Dakota State product has battled several injuries, missing 13 regular-season games as a pro. That likely played a factor in general manager Brian Gutekunst’s decision to use a first-round pick on Golden.
Additionally, the Packers’ receiving room is getting crowded as Gutekunst double-dipped at the position in the draft, taking Savion Williams from TCU in the third round. That’s on top of already having Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontavion Wicks on the roster.
Considering Watson is about to enter the final year of his rookie contract, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get traded out of Green Bay. Granted, the three-year veteran is recovering from a torn ACL, which could complicate matters.”
Watson during the 2024 season with Green Bay caught 29 passes for 620 yards receiving and two touchdowns, along with averaging 21.4 yards per reception. He also was targeted 53 times. The 26-year-old wide receiver has also been plagued with injures over the last couple of seasons.
For now, the first team wide receiver group will be Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Golden. Williams and Dontayvion Wicks will be on the second team. Hardman, Bo Melton, and Malik Heath will compete for the final wide receiver spot on the roster, and this probably will mean that Watson will begin the 2025 season on the injured reserve list.
However, if Watson does return from his torn ACL injury, will he be on the playing field right away? That is a question that remains to be answered. If Reed, Doubs, and Golden are all playing well, there may not be room for Watson to be getting play time.
It would be a surprise if Watson was on the trade block at this point for Green Bay entering his final season. Teams may not want to trade for him knowing he would not be back until the middle of the season at the earliest from the torn ACL. There is a chance that he may not play at all for the Packers during the 2025 NFL season. Lastly, Green Bay may decide not to give him a new contract after the 2025 NFL season also.
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