When the Packers drafted Christian Watson in the second round a year ago, there was a sigh of relief from the fans of the green and yellow. Drafting a receiver in the higher rounds has been an anomaly for the Packers’ organization.

After seeing an impressive collegiate career with the North Dakota State Bison, Watson’s expectations were extremely elevated. At North Dakota State from 2017-2021, he won four FCS National Championships, was named first-team All-American (2020), second-team All-American (2021), and was a two-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) athlete in back-to-back seasons (2020,2021). Watson’s accolades helped North Dakota win the championships as he was a vital contributor to the team.

College Statistics: 

2018 (Redshirt Freshman): 9 Receptions for 165 Yards

2019: 34 Receptions for 732 Yards, 6 Receiving Touchdowns, 1 Rushing

2020: 19 Receptions for 442 Yards, 1 Receiving Touchdown

2021: 43 Receptions for 801 Yards, 7 Receiving Touchdowns, 1 Rushing

Total: 105 Receptions for 2,140 Yards, 14 Touchdowns, 2 Rushing

Injuries/ Setbacks: 

After being a reliable athlete for the Bison, Watson has struggled with injuries during his NFL career.

2022:

Knee Tear – Watson underwent surgery to repair his knee. This minor operation held him out of OTAs and he was back with the team on August 21, 2022.

Hamstring – Watson missed multiple games during the 2022 season with a hamstring injury. He did not play in week 6 and 7.

Concussion – In week 8 (2022), Watson received a concussion in the first-quarter of their week 8 matchup versus the Minnesota Vikings.

2023: 

Hamstring – To begin the 2023 season, Watson injured his hamstring once again toward the end of training camp. It took him three weeks to fight back and returned against the Lions in week 4.

Knee Bruise – In week 7 versus the Denver Broncos, Watson sustained a bruise to his right knee. He missed the remainder of the game but did not miss any additional time.

Hamstring – Against the Kansas City Chiefs just a week ago, Watson suffered yet another hamstring injury after attempting to cut up the field on a jet pass. His return to the field this week versus the New York Giants on Monday Night Football is questionable.

According to Dr. Jesse Morse, this is reportedly Watsons’ fifth strain since 2021.

#Packers Christian Watson – R hamstring strain. 5th strain since 2021. Likely to miss 1-2 weeks depending on severity. Wicks & Doubs set up.

— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) December 4, 2023

Watson’s Prevention Techniques: 

Being a professional football player is one tough job — it is even harder when injuries plague your time on the field. With recent hamstring injuries playing a vital factor in Watson’s time missed, he has taken some steps forward to help him remain on the field.

According to Watson himself via a Ryan Wood posting on X, he mentioned the process he takes and the next steps.

More from Christian Watson on his efforts behind the scenes to stop recurring injuries. pic.twitter.com/MLBjy9SuYt

— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 7, 2023

Unfortunate Times | Flashes Shown: 

The term ‘unfortunate’ is something that comes to mind when thinking about Christian Watson’s injury history. He is the type of athlete who not only has high expectations from fans and his teammates, but he is also the type of athlete who has just started getting comfortable in the LaFleur offense.

Over the last three games, Watson has found the endzone and has shown flashes of his playmaking ability. It is truly heartbreaking to see such a promising athlete continue to face adversity through a multitude of injuries.

Even with missing the first three games of the season and listed as questionable for Monday night, Watson is on track to beat his 2022 rookie statistics.

NFL Statistics:

2022: 41 Receptions for 611 Yards, 7 Receiving Touchdowns, 2 Rushing

2023: 28 Receptions for 422 Yards, 5 Receiving Touchdowns

Total: 69 Receptions, 1,033 Yards, 12 Receiving Touchdowns, 2 Rushing

Wrap-Up/ Prediction for Watson: 

There are moments where NFL players go an entire career with very minimal injury history. For Christian Watson, that ship has already sailed. It is now up to him to continue to push through adverse situations and come out on top. It is a proven fact that when Watson and Love are on the same page, it is a true sight to witness. He is a difference-maker for the Packers and his health is extremely important for a team that is fighting for a playoff berth.

All I know is this — If Watson can stay healthy for an entire NFL season, he will produce with top-tier numbers from a receiving standpoint and help the Packers’ offense reach new heights. He is already a touchdown machine and I expect nothing less when he returns to the field.