After tearing his ACL just 294 days ago, Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson is expected to suit up and play against his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
What does this mean for the game — and going forward?
Well, for this matchup between the Packers and Steelers, it might not mean as much immediately as it does in the long run. Don’t get me wrong! Watson should get up to speed fairly quickly, and will likely draw attention away from other receivers like Matthew Golden and Romeo Doubs. But for the most part, this game will be about shaking off the rust.
As mentioned before, expect Watson to run a few nine routes to stretch the defense vertically, though he might not be the primary target on those plays. Where he could really make an impact is in the red zone. Watson isn’t just fast; he’s a big, athletic receiver who can win contested catches. Look for him to see some red zone targets.
Packers and Watson Going Forward
Watson’s return couldn’t come at a better time for Green Bay. It’ll take him a little while to get back into full football shape. But by the time the Packers are pushing for a playoff run, that rust should be gone.
Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, and Jayden Reed complement each other perfectly. Watson is the piece that really makes this offense work — his speed forces defenses to respect the deep ball and opens up opportunities for everyone else.
We haven’t yet seen how Watson’s ability to stretch the field will affect Matthew Golden’s production, but it’s safe to assume it’ll be positive. Expect a lot of nine routes paired with dig routes, creating space for underneath options.
Of course, this could mean a slight dip in Golden’s overall target share, but those targets should become more efficient and higher in quality.
Steelers Vs Packers
Tonight, the Packers face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their former quarterback, future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has looked much better with the Steelers than he did with the Jets — likely because he’s had more time to recover from his Achilles injury. Pittsburgh’s offense has been both efficient and explosive through the air. DK Metcalf poses a major problem and could create matchup nightmares, especially in the red zone.
Defensively, this isn’t the same dominant Steelers unit that we have seen before. Green Bay should be able to move the ball effectively against them.
This one could easily turn into a high-scoring game — and you know Rodgers isn’t going down without a fight.
Prediction
I think the Packers win 33-27.
ChatGPT’s Predictions:
I expect this to be a tight, high-stakes primetime affair, but I lean toward the Packers pulling it out thanks to their improved defense and recent momentum.
Final Score Prediction: Packers 26 — Steelers 20
Either way and always,
Go Pack Go!
——————
Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
——————
The post Packers Christian Watson Is Now Expected To Play first appeared on PackersTalk.com Blog Posts and Podcasts.