Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson’s second NFL did not go as planned. He had a ton of games missed because of issues with his hamstring. Watson hopes he can do better in his third season with the Packers.
He is going to be involved in the offense next season when he is healthy. Christian Watson was hoping to take the reins as the number-one wide receiver this season but it never happened. Jayden Reed will take that reign heading into 2024, but does that really matter at all for this offense?
Watson has the talent to be successful in this league, but not being on the field will hurt him. Maybe Christian Watson was just dealing with the sophomore slump last season and it will be huge for them in his third season. It will be a big season for him next season no doubt.
If he is injured big time next season and if Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed see the field often, it will not be a good thing for him for his future with the team.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Christian Watson’s Stats During the 2023 Season and His Current Contract Situation
There were times last season when quarterback Jordan Love and Christian Watson were not on the same page. Love didn’t have a good passer rating when targeting him. They got it together around Thanksgiving before Watson got hurt again a week later and then missed the final month of the regular season.
Watson caught 28 passes for 422 yards receiving and five touchdowns, along with averaging 15.1 yards per reception. He was targeted 53 times by quarterback Jordan Love. He also rushed for 11 yards on four carries and zero touchdowns and averaged 2.8 yards per carry.
One of the reasons why a lot of people thought he was going to be the primary receiver heading into year two is because of how well he played during his rookie, especially late. That season in 2022, he caught 41 passes for 611 yards receiving and seven touchdowns and averaged 14.9 yards per reception. Christian Watson was targeted 66 times. He rushed for 80 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns and averaged 11.4 yards per rush.
Watson played in 14 games in 2022 and only in nine games in 2023. In the two postseason games this season, he only caught two passes for 20 yards receiving and zero touchdowns. Christian Watson averaged 10.0 yards per reception and was only targeted three times by quarterback Jordan Love.
Watson would get double-teamed often by defenses and that goes to show how much speed he possesses and he is still a threat in this offense. That is why players like Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks got open in the postseason.
Jayden Reed was effective in his way also. Reed received some carries this season on jet sweeps and that is something that head coach Matt LaFleur should do next season with Watson as well.
After the 2024 season, Christian Watson will have one more year remaining on his rookie deal and will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. Watson has to play a lot this season.
Even if he is just the third receiver, he will need a season of 60 receptions for 800 yards and six touchdowns and being targeted 75 times by Love. What he can’t have is another injury-riddled season or the Green Bay Packers will just not re-sign him after next season because of the emergence of the other young wide receivers they have on the current roster.
