Nine months after tearing the ACL in his right knee, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson took an essential step in his comeback this week, but his return to the field will have to wait at least one more game.
When Will Christian Watson Return to the Field?
The former second-round pick was designated to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and participated in limited practices leading into Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
LaFleur said Christian Watson has looked “pretty damn good” this week, but he won’t play Sunday.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 10, 2025
According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur provided clarity on Friday, confirming that Watson will not play against the Bengals despite looking sharp in practice. “He won’t play this week,” LaFleur said. “But he looked pretty damn good.”
Watson returned to the field for the first time since his ACL injury in January against the Chicago Bears, taking part in limited sessions on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The Packers plan to bring him along cautiously, and a potential Week 7 return is now on the radar.
What Does Watson’s Return to Practice Mean for the Packers?
Designating Watson to return from the PUP list begins a 21-day window for the Packers to activate him to the 53-man roster. If he is not activated within that period, he must remain on the PUP list for the rest of the year.
The Packers’ offense is still searching for consistency, so Watson’s eventual return could not come at a more crucial time. Green Bay ranks 10th in PFSN’s Offensive Impact rankings with an 80.5 rating, but its passing attack has averaged just 250 yards per game, 29th in the NFL, and 2.48 touchdowns per game through four contests so far.
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Meanwhile, the team leads the league with a 54.4% completion rate when targeting primary receivers. The absence of Jayden Reed, who is sidelined with a fractured collarbone, has forced quarterback Jordan Love to rely on rookies like Matthew Golden, the Packers’ 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Golden started the season slowly, seeing just two targets in the first two games, though his involvement increased against the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys. Even with his progress, the Packers need Watson back on the field.
When healthy, Watson is often the difference-maker. The Packers have averaged nearly five more points per game with him active (28.8) since 2023, compared to the games he missed (23.8). Watson, who signed a one-year contract extension last month, caught 29 passes for 620 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games in 2024, the kind of production Green Bay requires.
While he will not suit up against Cincinnati, his presence in practice is a clear sign that the Packers are carefully preparing to reintroduce him. Whether that return comes in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals or Week 8 at the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans must wait and see. For now, the Packers sit second in the NFC North with a 2-1-1 record.