The Green Bay Packers seem to have gotten bad news on wide receiver Christian Watson on Monday morning.
According to multiple reports, the 25-year-old is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in the Packers’ Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears.
Watson was running a route during the second quarter when he suddenly fell to the ground after trying to make a break. He grabbed his knee while he remained on the turf, and multiple Bears players called for the trainers to check on him. The third-year receiver was eventually carted back to the locker room.
Here’s the latest Watson injury update:
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What happened to Christian Watson?
During the second quarter of the Packers’ Week 18 clash with the Bears, Watson sustained an apparent non-contact knee injury while trying to run a route.
He remained on the ground grabbing at his knee after the play was over, and the Packers’ training staff ran out to tend to the young wideout. After a brief on-field evaluation, the trainers carted Watson back to the locker room for further evaluation. He did not return to the game.
Christian Watson injury updates
On Monday, multiple reports indicated that Watson is feared to have a torn ACL. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport added that Waton’s knee injury may include ‘additional damage.’
The young receiver almost didn’t play in Week 18, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, ‘but he wanted to be out there for his team.’
The Packers have not yet released a statement confirming Watson’s status and the exact nature of his injury, but a torn ACL would indicate that Watson’s season is over. The Packers will be without one of their young wideouts when they play the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s wild-card round clash.
How long is Christian Watson out?
If Watson suffered a torn ACL in Week 18, the timing of the injury would not only keep him out of the Packers’ postseason run but also jeopardize his status for the start of the 2025 regular season.
The recovery timeline from a torn ACL is generally around six to nine months, barring any unforeseen setbacks during the process, according to Cleveland Clinic. Athletes could require additional time in the recovery process before returning to action.
Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell is a recent example of a player who tore his ACL later in the season. After sustaining the tear in Week 15 last year, he was not activated again until Week 10 this season. Watson could face a similar timeline, offset by a few weeks.