Packers receiver Christian Watson
is healthy and having a breakout season
[October 17, 2026]
By ROB MAADDI
Christian Watson is having a breakout season for the Green Bay
Packers now that he’s finally healthy.
The fifth-year wide receiver already has six touchdown catches in
five games along with 474 yards receiving. He’s 16 receptions, 147
yards and two TDs away from setting career highs in all three
categories.
“Honestly, just kind of going out there and playing ball,” Watson
said on the AP’s “Football Unfiltered” podcast. “I don’t think that
I’ve been doing anything too different. I think that we just got
kind of those banked reps and just the connection and the
relationship and trust that me and J-Love (Jordan Love) have built
over these past couple of years. I feel like getting a full
offseason of being healthy and getting those banked reps has just
allowed us to just go out there and execute."
A second-round pick out of North Dakota State in 2022, Watson has
shown potential to be a No. 1 wideout but has dealt with injuries
and setbacks.
He missed a few games because of a concussion as a rookie and
hamstring issues limited him to nine games in 2023. He played in 15
games in 2024 but tore his ACL on the final day of the regular
season and missed the playoffs. That injury caused Watson to miss
the first six games in 2025.
“The main thing for me was just the amount of confidence that I have
in myself, honestly,” Watson said about overcoming adversity. “I
felt like coming back from those things, and just coming back with
the same level of confidence that I had when I was 100% healthy
before the injury, I felt like that was huge and helping me play.”
[to top of second column] |
Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson celebrates after catching a
touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against
the Chicago Bears in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP
Photo/Mike Roemer)
He’s built quite a connection with Love.
“I just enjoy how much trust and confidence that he has in
everybody,” Watson said. “His level of confidence instills another
level of confidence for me. ... Because you know he is gonna put the
ball out there for me to get it. If I make a bad play, he’s still
gonna come back and still have that same level of confidence.”
The Packers (3-2) are coming off an impressive 31-7 rout over
Chicago heading into a Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys
(2-3). They’ll face a team that’s struggled on defense and has some
injuries in the secondary.
“We just gotta continue to find that growth, have that same mindset
going into the game,” Watson said.
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