Packers WR Christian Watson out months with torn ACL

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) leaves the field on a cart after getting injured against the Chicago Bears in the second quarter during their football game Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson suffered a torn right ACL and requires season-ending surgery.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Watson is done for the year just as Green Bay begins preparation for the playoffs.

“It’s an unfortunate part of our game. I know he’ll attack in the right way. It’ll be just a bump in the road,” LaFleur said Monday.

Watson, 25, officially will move to injured reserve on Monday, creating a second vacant roster spot. LaFleur said the Packers are “looking at everything” when asked if they would work out free agent receivers.

Watson sustained the noncontact injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears. The injury is expected to sideline Watson into the beginning of the 2025 season.

He was carted off the field and initially ruled questionable to return before being downgraded to out. Watson missed the Packers’ Week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings with a left knee injury.

Watson had 29 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns in 15 starts this season. He has 98 receptions for 1,653 yards and 14 TDs in 38 career games (35 starts) since being selected in the second round of the 2022 draft.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love was held out of the second half against the Bears as a precaution after injuring his throwing elbow, but LaFleur said postgame that he will be good to go for the team’s NFC wild-card game Sunday at Philadelphia.