Packers' Christian Watson Shares Promising Instagram Video Amid Injury Recovery
Packers' Christian Watson Shares Promising Instagram Video Amid Injury Recovery originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
If you've caught any interviews with Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, you have probably noticed how openly he talks about Christian Watson and how much the team values him—not just as a player, but as a person too. It does not matter how many targets Watson gets—his willingness to put on a blocking clinic for the run game is just one testament to how unselfish number 9 is and shows his strong character.
Advertisement
Watson tore his ACL in the 2024 regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears and should miss the start of the 2025 season. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he is ahead of schedule in his recovery, which is encouraging. While Watson's dad believes he will likely return in the second half of the 2025 season, there could be a chance he will come back sooner than expected.
The possibility of an early return got an extra spark this week when Watson posted another encouraging update in his recovery.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs off the field after the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.© Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
On Friday, he shared an Instagram video of himself sprinting and running routes—his most active showing yet since the injury.
Green Bay has historically taken a conservative approach when easing players back from injury, and that is unlikely to change with Watson. Given the seriousness of his ACL tear and how valuable he is to the offense, there is no chance the Packers will rush him back unless they're 100% confident he can protect himself and play without restriction.
Advertisement
It would be in Green Bay's best interest to have Watson back at full speed just in time for a potential playoff run. Not only does he bring a unique element of speed to the offense, but he was also their best man-coverage beater last year. He is arguably Green Bay's most dangerous offensive weapon, with the ability to elevate both the passing attack and the run game whenever he's on the field.
On the other hand, Watson and his camp will likely take a cautious and smart approach to his return. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract, and any misstep could impact his health and hurt his chances of securing a long-term extension with the Packers. Still, both sides should work together to find the best possible scenario—one that protects Watson's future while maximizing his value to the team.
Related: Packers Predicted To Keep Seven Wide Receivers On Final 53-Man Roster
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kraken and Blackhawks Swap Forwards In One-For-One Trade
Chicago Blackhawks center Joe Veleno (90) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Seattle Kraken have acquired Joe Veleno from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Andre Burakovsky. Veleno, a 25-year-old center, scored three goals and seven points in 18 games with the Blackhawks last season. Prior to his lone half-season with Chicago, Veleno was a first-round draft pick (30th overall) to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played 288 games, scoring 35 goals and 74 points. Advertisement Veleno enters the final year of a two-year contract he signed with the Red Wings, which pays him $2.275M annually. He'll be a restricted free agent following the conclusion of the season. Burakovsky, the Swedish winger heading the other way, needed a change of scenery. The 2024-25 season wasn't too kind to the 30-year-old, recording just 10 goals and 37 points in 79 games. Burakovsky's first two seasons were hampered by injuries, forcing him to play just 49 games each year. His first season with the Kraken was strong, but since then, he's been on a steady decline. Getting out of the last year of his $5.5M cap hit and acquiring a player that could be flipped at the deadline is smart business from the Kraken. Veleno will also require less ice time to be effective, which should free up additional ice time for the young crop of Kraken forwards. 'Andre was a valuable player for our organization during the three years he was here, and we wish him and his family the best of luck in Chicago," Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said of Burakovsky. "In return, we've acquired a young player with experience while also increasing our salary cap flexibility moving forward." Advertisement Acquiring Veleno is a low-risk move which could benefit the Kraken in the future. Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story. Kraken Acquire Mason Marchment From The Stars Kraken Acquire Mason Marchment From The Stars The Seattle Kraken have acquired Mason Marchment from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2025 and a third-round pick in 2026.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Twins pitcher trolls Kody Clemens with callback to dad's broken bat incident
Give Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan a ton of credit. He sure knows his baseball history. On Friday, as the Minnesota Twins faced the Milwaukee Brewers, the starter perfectly trolled his teammate Kody Clemens with a perfect callback to one of his father's most infamous moments: The broken bat toss at Mike Piazza in Game 2 of the 2000 World Series. Advertisement Ryan would've been four years old when Roger Clemens lost his cool. But the moment was clearly fresh in Ryan's mind Friday when Christian Yelich's splintered bat landed right in front of the mound. Ryan grabbed the bat and pretended to toss it at Yelich as Kody Clemens looked on from the infield. We can only assume Ryan has been waiting for this opportunity since Minnesota added Clemens back in April. If it just came into Ryan's mind in the moment, then more power to him. That should make for fun clubhouse fodder — at least, it will be until Roger shows up. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Twins pitcher trolls Kody Clemens with callback to dad's broken bat incident
CBS News
38 minutes ago
- CBS News
Sophomore track star from Massachusetts also empowering young Black women
A student at Newton North High School in Massachusetts has taken the track and field world by storm while making waves in her community, all before she begins her junior year. "I started track in the seventh grade, I mostly wanted to do it because my big sister and my dad did it before me, so I was like wait, why don't I just do track," said Blake MacNeal. "And then I started it and I actually really like it, I like the community, I like hanging out with my friends." Ranked state wide in track events MacNeal currently ranks third in the state for long jump and second for triple jump, an incredible feat for any athlete, let alone a high school sophomore. She's also in the top 15 in the state for hurdles. "I do a lot of jumping because I really like flying, I really like the feeling that I was flying," said MacNeal. "In hurdles, it was like the same thing but now, I feel like it's a lot harder just because the competition has ramped up so much. But I feel like in practices, I still feel like it's my favorite thing to do. Hurdles is my favorite sport, I just love the feeling of it and I love constantly trying and pushing myself." "She's achieved so much at such an early age and she's very humble about it as well and she hasn't become complacent. Another thing I admire about her is she continues to push herself even though she's had a lot of success," said her father, Roderick MacNeal. "It's almost surreal that I have a child that is excelling the way she is." Founded nonprofit to support young Black women MacNeal's achievements don't stop on the track. She's also the founder of the nonprofit Her Space, aimed at supporting young Black women who navigate predominantly white environments in schools and communities. "Her Space, like a space for women to thrive," said MacNeal. "When you have people you can relate to at a young age, it helps you feel welcome in areas, it helps you feel included and I feel like feeling included is such an important thing, feeling like you have someone there for you is just so important, it's such a valuable experience to have at such a young age that we want to allow them to grow up with people that they can relate to."
