The Green Bay Packers are starting training camp on Monday as they prepare for the 2024 NFL season. Prior to the first practice of camp, general manager Brian Gutekunst met with the media to discuss early developments with the team.
Quarterback Jordan Love is present for training camp but will not participate on the field for any practices until his new contract is done. The two sides have been negotiating a new deal for months and wanted something done by the time camp started. Unfortunately, it will take a little bit longer.
Gutekunst also discussed an older offseason development: the measures that were taken with wide receiver Christian Watson and cornerback Eric Stokes to get to the bottom of their recent injury issues. Both players believe they have gotten to the root of their respective injury troubles and are both primed for what hopes to be a big year.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Christian Watson Learned a Troubling Truth Regarding His Legs
![Green Bay Packers: Brian Gutekunst Addresses Christian Watson Injury History Ahead of Training Camp 1 Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_22030812_168400517_lowres-e1721665860381.jpg)
Earlier this offseason, Watson and Stokes visited a leg injury specialist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Testing there revealed that one of Watson’s hamstrings was 20% weaker than the other. This led to his frequent leg injuries throughout the last two seasons.
Leading up to his visit to Wisconsin, Watson had said, “If I can find out what kind of things can possibly be leading to it, make sure I’m doing the right things in the offseason, doing the right things during OTAs, into training camp, just find ways to make sure I’m doing everything I can to be conscious of it.”
The 2022 second round pick was able to participate in Green Bay’s entire offseason program without incident. Now he is reporting to training camp with the best outlook he has had since he began his NFL career.
Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst Is Excited for Christian Watson to Have a Healthy Year
![Green Bay Packers: Brian Gutekunst Addresses Christian Watson Injury History Ahead of Training Camp 2 Green Bay Packers, Christian Watson](https://wisportsheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/USATSI_22030947-scaled.jpg)
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
When discussing Watson and his injury history during his press conference on Monday, Gutekunst said (via Ryan Wood):
Brian Gutekunst confident Christian Watson is in a good place with his health: “We need him to be out there, because we are a different team when he’s out there.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 22, 2024
This is a definite truth spoken by Gutekunst. The Packers are much better with Watson on the field, and he is one of the most lethal touchdown threats in the NFL when healthy.
Despite missing a total of eight games last season, Watson still was second on the team with five touchdown receptions. Additionally, his 12 touchdown catches since coming into the NFL is the most of any wide receiver from the 2022 NFL Draft.
If Watson can stay healthy for a full season this year, he just may emerge as Green Bay’s number one wide receiver.
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