The Green Bay Packers have received some bad news as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening round of the playoffs.
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was carted off the field during the second quarter of the Packers’ 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, tests have since revealed that Watson suffered a torn ACL and additional damage.
Watson will not be available for the postseason, and his status for 2025 is now unclear.
The Packers drafted Watson with the 34th overall pick in 2022. Though the former North Dakota State star has yet to live up to expectations, he played in 15 games this year and seemed to overcome the hamstring issues that plagued him through his first two seasons.
Watson finished the regular season with 620 yards on just 29 receptions, which shows the type of deep threat he is. He had two games with over 100 yards, though he did not record a catch over the final two games of the year.
Not having Watson on the field should not be the difference between winning and losing for the Packers, but he certainly would have been a valuable deep threat for Jordan Love.