ACL injuries can take athletes out for months, and a torn one could cost years, and that is what happened to Christian Watson, who tore his ACL and was placed on the injured reserve by the Green Bay Packers for several months now. The question is, when will he be back?
Watson, who had been back practicing with the team since Week 6, has not been back yet, even as fans were expecting him to return on Week 7. The Packers are pretty banged up right now, and a Christian Watson return could be some good news for a team battered with so many injuries needs at the moment.
What Happened to Christian Watson?
Watson suffered an ACL injury back in January, as the Packers played their last game of the 2024 regular season. The team had a bye week earlier in October, and it certainly helped the wide receiver recover, as he has been back in practice but has only been doing individual drills to get himself back on his toes.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has noted on Week 6 that the wide receiver looked “pretty damn good” at practice but also confirmed that they will not have him play that week. They were optimistic that he would play around Week 7, but he was listed questionable and ultimately did not play.
Is Christian Watson Playing Week 8?
Yes, there’s finally good news for Packers fans. According to a league source, wide receiver Christian Watson is expected to play in Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last season.
Watson has been sidelined for nine months, and the Packers have taken a cautious approach to ensure he’s fully ready before returning to the field. His expected activation marks a major step forward, though it’s likely the coaching staff will monitor his snap count closely in his first game back.
Christian Watson Fantasy Outlook
Watson’s return gives Green Bay’s passing offense a much-needed boost and brings a familiar name back onto fantasy radars. That said, fantasy managers should temper expectations for his first game back – the Packers will likely ease him into action rather than immediately giving him a full workload.
He’s best viewed as a bench stash or risky FLEX play in Week 8, with strong upside moving forward once he’s re-established in the offense. If Watson looks sharp and avoids setbacks, he could quickly return to being a weekly WR3 option in fantasy lineups.
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