Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson is anticipating making his long awaited return to the playing field on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Watson, who tore his ACL in the 2024 regular season finale on Jan. 5 and then missed all of training camp and the Packers’ first six games of 2025, is practicing for the third straight week and expecting to play for the first time this season on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
“That’s my plan,” Watson said on Wednesday. “I say that every week. Obviously, leave it up to the trainers. But my goal and my plan is to play this week.”
Watson, who was designated for return from the PUP list on Monday, Oct. 6, thought he could have played last week in Arizona. But the team wanted to be as “smart as possible about it” and pushed back his return another week.
Based on how he feels, what he’s gathered from the team and his own personal expectation, Watson believes the plan is for him to play Sunday.
“For the most part, yeah,” Watson said. “In my interpretation of everything, to go out there and have the mindset to play.”
Watson said the three weeks of practice have been vital for getting into football shape and knocking off the rust after being off the field for nine months.
His return could take a good Packers offense to the next level. Last season, Watson caught 29 passes for 620 yards while averaging a career high 21.4 yards per catch and 11.7 yards per target.
“Me being out there is going to help open everybody open,” Watson said. “They have to respect my ability to beat them deep, for sure. I’ve made plays in my career and defenses have to respect that.”
Watson has not counted against the 53-man roster while designated to return. The Packers will need to activate him before Sunday, and the team currently has a full roster.
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