2022 has been a lost season for the Green Bay Packers as they are staring at their first playoff-less season since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019. The team has won 13 games in each of his first three seasons at the helm, but this season they will be lucky to win half that many with a record of 4-8.
With the season on life support, as Green Bay has a two percent chance of making the postseason, there hasn’t been much to get excited about. Injuries have decimated the roster, leading to some underwhelming performances. But, there are some glimmers of hope, headlined by the recent play of rookie wide receiver, Christian Watson.
The start to Watson’s career was rocky, to say the least, as he dropped the first Aaron Rodgers pass of the season for what would have been a 75-yard touchdown. An injured hamstring and concussion made the early part of the season difficult as well, but now that he is healthy and a bigger part of the game plan, he is producing.
Since Week 10, Watson is leading the NFL with six touchdown receptions and an 18.6 average depth of target. He is third with 3.44 yards per route ran and with 22.1 yards per catch. His 265 receiving yards are sixth over that span of time, as are his four contested catches. But, it hasn’t all been perfect, as Watson is still struggling with drops as he has four in the last three games.
Had Watson been able to stay healthy and produce like this earlier in the season, things may have gone differently for Green Bay. Alas, there is nothing that they can do about that now. The Packers are happy with what Watson is currently doing, but it does raise the question; is this sustainable? One NFC executive touched on it when talking to PFF.
“Watson’s got a lot of unique physical tools, and he’s made some pretty explosive plays as a result so far. It hasn’t been very high volume, so curious to see if he can keep up the high number of TDs.”
There is a lot to like about the size and athleticism combo that Watson brings to the table. He is a pretty raw prospect coming out of North Dakota State but his 6’4”, 208-pound frame matched with his elite measurables provides him a chance at becoming a go-to No. 1 option in the passing game.
The Packers’ inability to mend their relationship with Davante Adams, which led to him being traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, proved to be a disaster for the team. However, they are hoping that Watson, along with fellow rookie Romeo Doubs, can provide the team with a nice foundation in the passing game going forward.
