There hasn’t been much to get excited about in recent weeks for the Green Bay Packers. After losing their season opener, the Packers rattled off three straight wins but it has been a major struggle since. One thing to be happy about in Green Bay has been the development of rookie wideout Christian Watson.
The spiraling of their season began when Aaron Rodgers injured his thumb against the New York Giants in Week 5. While Rodgers refused to use the injury as an excuse for the team not succeeding, it was hampering his performance as he was struggling to make some of the throws we have become accustomed to seeing him make in recent years.
That loss to the Giants in London started a five-game losing streak. A come-from-behind victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 gave the team a glimmer of hope, but that light was quickly extinguished as the Packers lost to the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football in Week 11 and were defeated in Week 12 by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
With the playoffs looking like a long shot, and Rodgers possibly being sidelined by a new rib injury, the Packers will be looking to play spoiler for the remainder of the season. Jordan Love could be under center, which will give him a chance to build a rapport with Christian Watson, one of the only bright spots on the team recently.
Watson was in the doghouse instantly to start his career as he dropped what would have been a 75-yard touchdown on the first Packers offensive play of the season. He also battled an injury of his own, but once he returned to the field, he was provided an opportunity with other injuries occurring and he took full advantage.
The North Dakota State product has exploded onto the scene in the last three games. Over that span, he has caught 12 passes for 265 yards and six touchdowns. He is beginning to look like the kind of go-to receiver that Green Bay was hoping he would become when they used a second-round pick on him.
That stretch has put Watson ahead of some prominent names on the touchdown receptions list. According to StatMuse, he now has more touchdowns than Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill and DK Metcalf. He is also leading the NFC North in touchdown receptions.
The last three games have been quite a turnaround for Watson given how the season began. He has cemented himself as a starting caliber wide receiver, as he and fellow rookie Romeo Doubs give the Packers a nice foundation to build their passing offense around for the future.
