If there was a blemish on the large silver lining of the Green Bay Packers’ big, 27-19 win over the Chiefs on Sunday night at Lambeau Field, it was something that Packers supporters have grown accustomed to: a Christian Watson injury. His hamstring was strained. Again.
The play happened with about three minutes left in the game, on an end-around toss from Jordan Love to Watson. After taking the flip, Watson turned the corner and gained 10 yards, bringing the ball to the Chiefs’ 34-yard line. Watson stumbled and fell before making touch with someone in a white outfit.
The broadcasters suggested that maybe Watson went down because he wanted to keep the clock rolling and now step out of bounds. But that was not it.
“I was stuttering because of the hammy,” he said at his locker after the game.
Staying in bounds was a goal of his, but few people know what a Christian Watson injury feels like quite like Christian Watson. He knew he had hurt his right hamstring yet again on the play, and that is why he went down.
“I mean I was just with the corner, and obviously I was just trying to stay in bounds. And I just felt the hammy give a little bit,” he said.
Christian Watson Injury Overshadowed a Big Night
It had been a brilliant outing for Watson before the play. He caught seven balls for 71 yards and two touchdowns, a string that has further cemented his status as the team’s No. 1 receiver, and has helped build his level of connection with Jordan Love.
On Thanksgiving Day against the Lions, Watson had been brilliant, too, with five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. This came after a rough start to the season in which Watson missed the first three weeks of the year and struggled to get into rhythm when he returned. The same thing happened in 2022, when Watson missed three of the first seven weeks of the season with the hamstring injury.
Coach Matt LaFleur’s update on the Christian Watson injury was concerning in that he did not sound very positive.
“I don’t know,” he said in his postgame press conference. “We’ll know more tomorrow. But certainly it’s unfortunate. I think his play has taken off and that’s been a big catalyst for our offense. That touchdown catch he had vs. the all-out pressure was phenomenal. Jordan did a great job of hanging in there and giving him a ball and he went up there and was making some plays. I hope it’s not too long. He’s a dynamic player. Certainly, it took a minute for him to get going but once he gets going, you guys see the results.”
Packers Getting Strong WR-QB Connection
Unfortunate is a good word for it, because a healthy Christian Watson gives the Packers a speed option they don’t have elsewhere on the roster. A Christian Watson injury takes that away.
Still, Watson did not seem down after the game. Quite the opposite, he said.
“We’re fired up,” Watson said. “I think everybody in here trusted each other even when things are going bad. We’re on the other end of it now, still have that trust. Keep on building relationships in this locker room. We’re fired up.”
And his bond with Love on the field is growing stronger. Who knows, maybe the hamstring won’t be such a big concern this time. Maybe he’ll be able to return soon and continue to build with Love.
“The only word that comes to mind is extraordinary,” he said of his quarterback. I think his comfort, confidence, and ability to make plays is just getting better and better every week. We knew he was unique when he got the position and saw what he was all about, but now he’s showing the world, and we’re delighted for him.”
