Cory's Corner: Christian Watson Is Trapped
The Packers receiver's career has been littered with injuries. And now it's a contract year.
Christian Watson is slowly running out of time.
In the movie, “The Wizard of Oz” Dorothy is trapped by the Wicked Witch of the West while she can see her fate in the dwindling hourglass. Watson is also trapped. He tore his ACL in Week 18 against the Bears and as the sand slowly trickles into the bottom of the hourglass, that is the amount of time left on his rookie deal.
“I got a couple more months ahead of me, but I’m attacking it every day,” Watson said to WLUK-TV in Green Bay. “I’m in a really good spot.”
That’s the problem. If Watson doesn’t come back until November, he will have to play unbelievable football just in order to secure another deal from the Packers.
Watson is trapped. And if comes back later, that’s a shorter window for him to prove to another team that he can be a viable offensive threat.
That was the worst possible time for Watson to get a season-ending knee injury. Then again, Watson’s relationship with injuries has been too symbiotic. Ever since he became a pro, he has missed 13 games due to injury, from his hamstring problems in 2022 to his knee bruise in 2024.
I really like what Watson brings. He is an electric receiver that has a pterodactyl wing span. The problem just comes down to availability.
And unfortunately, that’s why Watson won’t be coming back to Green Bay in 2026. He does everything the right way, is an excellent teammate and has produced when called upon.
But he just cannot stay on the field.
The second round pick has only averaged 43.5 yards a game in his three years in Green Bay and has only been targeted 4.5 times a game. Watson came here with such promise out of North Dakota State with his blazing 4.36 40-yard time at the 2022 NFL Combine. But those aren’t No. 1 receiver numbers. I would argue that those are barely No. 3 receiver numbers.
The message was sent not once but twice during the 2025 NFL Draft. The Packers drafted speedster Matthew Golden at 23. Then the Packers doubled down and took Savion Williams, the 6-foot-4, 222-pound behemoth wideout, in the third round.
Watson is trapped. If he rushes back too soon, he will lose future value with the risk of getting reinjured. But if comes back too late, his role in the offense could be miniscule. How much will Jordan Love be able to trust Watson in press coverage? Will he be cautious about catching a ball over the middle?
But the Packers made the right move. I think Watson is a very talented receiver and he has proven that.
Watson is trapped by arguably the worst luck a player in a contract year can ever receive.
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__________________________
Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (67)
Cheezehead72
May 06, 2025 at 06:38 am
Depending on how the year progresses the Packers will offer him a one year contract if they feel they need him next year. If they feel they can do without him, which I believe will be the outcome, he will get a one year prove it deal from another team that needs WR help. When he is on the field he is good. His main problem is there are too many good young receivers. There is a good chance he will be in the UFL next year.
13TimeChamps
May 06, 2025 at 10:53 am
Too early to say if he will be back next year with the Packers, but there is no way in hell he's not in the NFL. Some team out there, and it still could be GB, will give him a chance, with that size and speed, to prove he can stay healthy.
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dblbogey
May 07, 2025 at 03:27 pm
Fascinating, but doesn't seem relevant to the article.
Renllaw
May 06, 2025 at 06:52 am
Looking from the other side... The Packers can likely get him back for an incentive filled 1 year prove it deal. Giving both sides motivation and opportunity for the break out season everyone has been waiting for. Its up to Watson, and fate, to stay positive and make the most of the situation. If I'm advising Watson, I'm not telling him to rush back. Get healthy and strengthen that lower body this year, and push for incentives next year.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 07:01 am
You posted yours while I was writing mine. Glad to see someone thinks the same. I think of him as the emergency reserve this season. By the time we hit the playoffs and during that game, we were pretty far down the roster at receiver. He'll be the boost we didn't have last season.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 06:54 am
Watson has the combination of what the 2 receivers taken this season bring. Not quite as fast as the fastest and not quite as big as the biggest, but the kid can run and block well and is satisfied to do either.
My wish is successful recovery, and he comes in at the end of the season with fresh legs to help us win in the playoffs, earning a 1 year prove it deal in the Packers' receiving room.
Coldworld
May 06, 2025 at 07:10 am
While I believe Savion Williams needs to be playing as a vertical X from the first day of OTAs, he’s not Watson. He doesn’t have the elite speed but he’s also a project. Right now he’s more a gadget/slot than a perimeter player in the eyes of many. There is scope to keep both.
The question is what does Watson demand? He himself has not fully blossomed into a truly diverse route tree. He’s still a questionable over the shoulder catcher. Injuries have played a major part in that, but until it’s realized that ceiling is no guarantee.
Watson would, from my perspective, be wise to accept that and agree to an incentive laden deal for a year or two. Bet on himself to show the league he’s a true star. However, that’s easy to say when other teams may dangle money now in a league where injuries can kill a career any time. It’s up to him and his people and sometimes those people don’t appear the sort to take a long term view.
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 02:19 pm
"While I believe Savion Williams needs to be playing as a vertical X from the first day of OTAs"
Using both Williams and Golden in that role means that they have plenty of personnel groupings that gets them that downfield threat that opens things up for the run game and in the short and intermediate zones. I agree that Williams has a fit there--he's explosive off the line, if not an outright burner, and his length means he can be a winner on the boundary.
Oppy
May 07, 2025 at 06:21 am
No idea if it the lack of opportunity down field was due to scheme limitations, or if the lack of opportunity down field was a result of a lack of ability to execute, but I read somewhere that Williams had only been targeted with passes deeper than 10 yards on 12 total plays last year (he did catch nearly all of them, though.)
Apparently, he was almost exclusively being targeted between 3-10 yards deep. I have no real context for why; I feel like you'd have to have watched the games to even venture a guess, and I have not.
But it is interesting that he was rarely targeted beyond short to medium yardage.
stockholder
May 06, 2025 at 07:15 am
Injuries happen to everybody in NFL.
And I don't believe he's a cream puff
that collapsed.
We could just do an injury settlement.
Now that his future outlook is dim.
Or let's just take one day at a time.
Watson isn't trapped.
He has tools and is a weapon.
And it will just take him longer
to reach his financial goals.
He could win the" Comeback player
of the year. "
But just letting him walk; isn't
the best solution for the packers.
Cheezehead72
May 06, 2025 at 07:52 am
Why would they come to an injury settlement if they believe he might be ready at the end of the year. Keep him on IR until he is ready and if he is never ready he is a FA unless they sign him.
Now I might be wrong in the injury settlement piece but I believe that is only useful when there are more =years on the contract and not the last year of a rookie contract.
Coldworld
May 06, 2025 at 09:18 am
There is no point in reaching an injury settlement even time proves if he can’t return this year. He won’t count against the roster as he will go from the PUP straight to IR.
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 01:32 pm
PUP rather than IR.
LambeauPlain
May 06, 2025 at 07:19 am
Watson's impressive work ethic will serve him well...and seems it is. I have a feeling he will get back on the field sooner than most think.
The common narrative is he won't be back until November. That's likely due to the law of averages. Christian is not "average". I do not count him out...far from it.
Coldworld
May 06, 2025 at 07:31 am
The problem for him is that players coming back from ACLs are most often not themselves athletically for 3-6 months. That’s a nasty reality for Watson and why I think a short extension with escalators would be in everyone’s best interest.
LambeauPlain
May 06, 2025 at 10:15 am
Agree. A short extension with incentives would be win/win...but Team Watson including his agent and Dad who seems to have a huge influence, would have to agree. Dad was clearly not happy with the Packers selecting two WRs.
Gary returned from his ACL tear in around 10 months...so they require a patient, slow recovery. Gary rehabbed full bore and made a quicker recovery than many expected then. Seems Watson is too, if his optimism is any indication.
GregC
May 06, 2025 at 07:25 am
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a player whose relationship with injuries is "too symbiotic."
Watson is hard to figure out. He's had some big games, but he's had a lot of games with little or no production. Is he not getting open, or are they just not getting the ball to him? I really don't know. Maybe they need a top receiver who has a steadier presence.
I would love to see him get worked back into the lineup and end the season on a high note. I think his skills are complementary with Matthew Golden's skills. But I agree with most people that the best Watson can hope for next year is a one-year prove-it deal.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 07:32 am
Don't you think that last season Love's injuries combined with constant early pressure up the middle prevented him from utilizing Watson for the majority of the games? Watson did throw plenty of great blocks to help Jacobs in the run game.
LambeauPlain
May 06, 2025 at 10:24 am
His blocking created outstanding production when not catching passes. Packers run as much or even more than they pass most games and have a lot of productive receivers to spread the ball to. Watson was frequently in the run play ploughing the road.
I don't know if the shared distribution was a game objective by LaFleur or it just turned out that way. I thought he deserved more targets.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 11:20 am
He would have gotten more targets, but I think even though he wasn't sacked allot, Love couldn't afford to just stand and wait for those deep passes to open up. He at least felt he had to get moving otherwise his sack numbers would have climbed.
Getting Kraft more targets should have been a priority too. Except for the same reason he had to help up front most of the time.
More targets for those guys, of course, would take the ball out of Jacobs hands though. What a nice problem to have to consider.
GregC
May 06, 2025 at 11:32 am
I don't remember that there was constant early pressure up the middle. Maybe there was, and I didn't notice it. If there was, it could be a factor in Watson being targeted less, as he tends to run deeper routes. I think they were putting a lot of emphasis on Reed and Wicks early in the season, to the detriment of Watson and Doubs. Plus they ran the ball more than usual. Too many mouths to feed. I thought having four WRs who were about equal in talent was going to work out, but it didn't. It is probably best to focus on two or three WRs and let the others get the leftovers.
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 01:46 pm
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a player whose relationship with injuries is "too symbiotic.""
You beat me to this: Cory needs to look up the definition of "symbiosis".
TXCHEESE
May 06, 2025 at 08:21 am
I have a hard time believing Gute is going to give up on Watson and let him walk after the season. As many posts say, a short term incentive laden deal would be beneficial for both sides. Watson when healthy, opposite Golden would really open up the offense for MLF.
Good kid, hard worker, great team mate, and still very young. Way too many positives to just let walk.
LeotisHarris
May 06, 2025 at 08:35 am
Watson will be unaffected by the field of poppies because he has the Lollipop Guild on his side. Remember, there's no place like home.
LLCHESTY
May 06, 2025 at 09:18 am
Did you know they used 124 dwarves in the Munchkinland scenes? Seems like it would be hard work to find that many, especially when child labor laws weren't as strict. Why not just pay an unsavory Principal to take some kids on a "field trip?" "If you kids ever want to see your parents again you'll get it right this time!"
Watson is the Tinman. He must stay lubed in order to not become just another forgotten cog in the machine.
LeotisHarris
May 06, 2025 at 10:30 am
The more you know!
It's info like this that keeps me coming back to CHTV.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 02:03 pm
It's not just my wit, good looks and unsubstantiated facts?
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 02:29 pm
By all accounts, the extras who played the munchkins were housed together near the studios and they partied like nuts.
snowdog
May 06, 2025 at 11:30 am
young fans say .. What ?
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 09:00 am
Watson will not play until at least around Thanksgiving, which means he could be available for the homestretch and playoffs.
If he comes back and plays well, he'll undoubtedly get FA offers.
If he comes back and plays poorly, then the offers won't be there.
If he doesn't come back this season, and the contract tolls, we'll get him for one more year.
I think the days of Watson being part of the Green Bay offense are nearing the end. The future of our WR unit is Reed, Golden, and Williams.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 09:19 am
I think it's kind of sad the way that the NFL has to turn players over to look more and more like college programs.
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 02:27 pm
I think the play style is just the evolution of the game. The two are moving toward each other...the college game is more wide-open than it's ever been.
As for turnover...the nature of the cap and rising cost of veterans pushes teams that way. We can blame ownership, but the CBA plays there, too.
LLCHESTY
May 06, 2025 at 09:23 am
Contracts can't be tolled when a player is on IR. They are still getting paid, though there may be some wording in the contract that reduces the salary. Tolling is for NFI and PUP players.
LambeauPlain
May 06, 2025 at 10:33 am
Yep. If he can't play he'd be on PUP until he can. If he's on PUP all season then his 2025 contract would toll for all 2026 and that would be the time to evaluate a new deal.
But if he plays in 2025, that is all moot.
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 04:02 pm
Thanks for the confirmation. Chesty doesn’t understand things
LLCHESTY
May 06, 2025 at 09:29 am
A lot is on the line for Watson upon his return. He needs to ball out at the end of the regular season or playoffs but it likely only takes one big game to draw the interest of other teams enough to get a multi year deal. On the plus side it sounds like his rehab is going well and he's ahead of schedule. If he has a set back or doesn't play well when he returns a one year deal with incentives is probably in his future. Imagine how angry his dad will be if the Packers don't make an offer?
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 02:07 pm
After what they did to get him with the first pick of the 2nd round, I think they'll go a long way to get the guy who really wants and loves to play in Green Bay,
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 04:07 pm
Which of our receivers will take a seat so Watson can “ball out” during the stretch run? Golden? Reed? Someone else?
13TimeChamps
May 06, 2025 at 06:56 pm
Dontayvion "hands of stone" Wicks for starters.
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 08:12 pm
Based on last year, I'd agree. And there's also a chance somebody will be hurt. But the guy will have been out for 10 months, no training camp, etc. ....
If the guys on the field are playing well, Watson isn't going to get a bunch of opportunities. Remember, he only got two touches/game last year.
We're not benching Reed or Golden , and if Doubs is healthy it won't be him. That puts Wicks on a short list.
PeteK
May 06, 2025 at 09:37 am
Watson and now Doubs are question marks, but luckily we have 3 new additions. Signing Hardman as a pure returner and veteran voice with post season experience should help. Let the competition begin!
mjbrogno
May 06, 2025 at 10:09 am
This young man is definitely talented. The biggest problem for Watson is his father voicing his opinion on how the Packers are dealing with his son’s current situation. The Packers are by far a class organization and only want what’s best for Watson. Yes, football is a business but, the reality is the organization has to do what’s best for the team. All Packer fans would love for Watson to be healthy and have the ability to stay on the field. Outside noise is not in his best interest.
Alberta_Packer
May 06, 2025 at 10:58 am
Given Watson's College and Pro long injury history - the probability of another injury is very high sometime during a season. Also he's coming back from an ACL - which could have compromised his speed and burst. Due to these factors - a Jaire Alexander type (re-structured) - pay-if-play based - one year contract (pending) - would only make sense for the Packers.
Rick5952
May 06, 2025 at 11:57 am
Pay him by the hour.
Alberta_Packer
May 06, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Also agent should negotiate time and a half for overtime hours.
WD
May 06, 2025 at 12:29 pm
It is very presumptuous to claim he will not be here in 2026. Time will tell. If he is not here it will be a tremendous loss. With him we could have three really great WRs. Every player is a risk. He is worth the risk. He definitely should get at least a one year deal if he finishes out the season healthy. Watson, Reed and Golden sounds fantastic to me. You can bet Love feels the same.
NFLfan
May 06, 2025 at 01:23 pm
Watson has a great future ahead of him--but it's not in football. He'll likely come back and eventually sustain another injury. Hopefully, he will see the writing on the wall and leave sooner than later.
He is good-looking, personable, a college grad and smart (Wonderlic score of 38).
13TimeChamps
May 06, 2025 at 01:38 pm
"Watson has a great future ahead of him--but it's not in football."
How the hell do you pretend to know where his future takes him? His injuries aren't concussion related. Why would he retire at a young age while he can still make millions before he even turns 30?
I don't think being good looking and personable will necessarily translate to a successful career elsewhere.
T7Steve
May 06, 2025 at 02:11 pm
"I don't think being good looking and personable will necessarily translate to a successful career elsewhere."
My hopes are dashed.....
Houndog
May 15, 2025 at 07:53 am
T7Steve, it'll be Okay!
I'm old and good looking, it ain't that bad!
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 02:16 pm
Agreed: even if he loses a half step due to injury, he's still faster than most, and he has a physical profile and big play ability that makes him valuable.
Alberta_Packer
May 06, 2025 at 03:15 pm
Actually people who are tall and physically attractive - do have an easier path to success.
In a book by Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell - he found that “In the U.S. population, about 14.5% of all men are 6ft or taller." Among CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, that percent is 58% - with a third being 6ft 2in or taller.
There are also other studies that concludes height gives a subconscious bias to promotions and salaries in the workplace.
Christian Watson is a young, tall, attractive, smart, personable and somewhat famous individual - with already over 7 M in career earnings. So his likelihood of having a successful post-football career is outstanding. Whatever that may be.
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 09:00 pm
I knew that. Did you know that the tallest candidate wins most of our Presidential elections?
T7Steve
May 07, 2025 at 06:02 am
Was hoping it was the smartest.
dobber
May 06, 2025 at 02:14 pm
The Packers are in a bizarre position with their pass-catchers not named Kraft. They've got a room of returnees who didn't raise their level of play in their second (or third) years, whether it's due to the dropsies or concussions or whatever. Contracts are coming up, their big-play guy (Watson) is shelved, and they have a relatively young QB who needs help from his skill guys.
Enter Golden and Williams--but even though young WR are more likely now than in the past to excel in their first years--relying on rookie WR to be leaders is a rough proposition...not to mention Williams lacks much in the way of route savvy. So it's way more likely that these two are complementary pieces or role players than they are weekly leaders. That means that in all likelihood, the pass-catchers still rely primarily on the development and use of Kraft, Doubs, Reed, and Wicks.
Alberta_Packer
May 06, 2025 at 03:54 pm
I think that the WR room looks better for 2026 than this season. So it may have to be smaller contributions from a larger no. of players for this year - including Marshawn Llloyd and Luke Musgrave.
GregC
May 06, 2025 at 09:41 pm
It really is a hodgepodge of pass catchers, isn't it. At least they made bold moves by taking a receiver in the first round and one in the third round who is very different and therefore doesn't have to directly compete with the others for snaps and targets. This is better than if they had taken a couple receivers in the mid to late rounds, which would've just added to the confusion.
Maybe Golden will pass up Doubs and/or Wicks. He has more raw talent than either of them. Reed already has an established niche as the main slot receiver. My hope is that Golden and Reed emerge as the two main WRs, with Williams as a change of pace guy a few times per game, and let Doubs and Wicks fight for the leftovers.
But who knows? There are bound to be injuries and players who perform better or worse than expected. There are lots of moving parts. I'm hoping for more well-defined roles this year, and maybe even an established pecking order.
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JDH1313
May 06, 2025 at 02:49 pm
Tell me how many times a 6'4" 200 lb. WR that runs a sub 4.4 40 comes around?
Not often that's how!
C Dub will get at the very least a one year prove it deal because of his attributes alone. Just imagine him and Golden on the outsides at the same time or lined up next to each other, There's way to much upside a OC can use them as so my money is on C Dub returning in 2026!
Leatherhead
May 06, 2025 at 08:15 pm
I agree he'll get a deal somewhere,with someone, but I'm really doubting it's going to be Green Bay. Chances are he'll get an offer we're unwilling to match.
T7Steve
May 07, 2025 at 06:12 am
The Packers have shown that they'll give extra rope to a high draft pick. Look how long we had to put up with Amari Rodgers. I think, if nothing else, they want Watson for the goon/Lazard role because he's the best blocking receiver, which is worth a lot to the Packers.
Hitnhope23
May 06, 2025 at 03:09 pm
Boo hoo! Cry me a river. Another wasted 2nd round draft pick. And isn't Golden being hyped up the way Watson was before ever playing a snap in the NFL? Come on people you need to be realistic. Take off the rose colored glasses, or better yet your green and gold colored glasses. Geez......
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Houndog
May 15, 2025 at 08:01 am
Has anyone thought about the fact that you can't rehab a knee without working the entire lower body? As unfortunate as it is, this could be the (bad) break Watson needed to finally put an end to his leg issues.
Whatever! The kid has shown he's willing to block, take the hits, and do whatever they ask despite his lousy luck. If not in GB, I hope he succeeds somewhere!