Since being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, wide receiver Christian Watson has fought through quite a few injuries that have held back his four-year career.
Fighting back from an ACL tear in 2024, the Packers wideout was able to return to the field in Week 8 of the 2025 season. After some nice outings, Watson left the game after hitting the ground hard on a deep target from quarterback Jordan Love against the Denver Broncos in Week 15.
What Happened to Christian Watson?
After returning to the field, Watson was starting to find his footing after two big games against the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears in Weeks 13 and 14, respectively. However, that momentum slowed significantly against the Broncos in Week 15, as he had caught three of five targets for 29 yards in the first three quarters.
On the fifth target, Love tried to find Watson deep down the field. Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II made a miraculous interception; however, Watson’s impact with the ground kept the wide receiver on the turf well after the play as trainers rushed to help him up.
Christian Watson is down for the Packers, following a Pat Surtain INT pic.twitter.com/Ta1uYj22nz
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 14, 2025
While he was able to walk off the field under his own power, it was evidently clear that something wasn’t right with his upper body as he quickly made his way back to the locker room.
Christian Watson to the locker room pic.twitter.com/ZJ3XhFNNkA
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 14, 2025
It did not take long for ESPN’s Adam Schefter to confirm the news that many suspected after watching Watson go down: Green Bay ruled Watson out due to a chest injury.
Watson worked hard not only to return from a torn ACL but also to thrive. He’s easily been the Packers’ best wide receiver over the past month, and that was evidenced by his placement in PFSN’s WR Impact metric. Despite a shortened season, Watson ranked as the 4th overall wideout in the NFL with a score of 90. Unfortunately, this shoulder injury appears to be a season-ending one.
Without Watson, Romeo Doubs would be restored to the primary outside role. We should also see more from Matthew Golden.
One player who won’t see a change is Jayden Reed, as he does not play in two-receiver sets regardless of who the Packers have healthy. However, it is possible that he will be utilized more, as he is a playmaker, and the Packers will have a tough time replacing Watson’s production.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
