It’s been a great sight for Packers fans in the early days of training camp. Wide receiver Christian Watson has been seen on the field working with the rehab group and he looks strong. The fourth-year man out of North Dakota State hopes to return early from ACL surgery, but the Packers would be wise not to rush him back and continue to be conservative with the way they handle Watson.

The Packers traded up to select Watson with the first pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In his first three seasons, Watson has flashed the ability to be dominant but has also been plagued by inconsistent play.

Because of his rare combination of size and speed, however, Watson is the type of player who can create opportunities for his teammates even when he doesn’t catch the ball. Defenses feel they must account for him on every play, and he often draws double coverage. So, for example, sending Watson deep down the left side of the field could open up space underneath for a teammate running a shorter pattern even if the speedy wideout never sees the ball on the play.

Watson tore his ACL last year during the season finale against the Bears. He is presently on the PUP list which allows him to practice and work with the team as he continues his rehab.

Watson was expected to miss at least the first half of the 2025 season as he rehabs from the injury. If he starts the regular season on the PUP list, he must miss at least the first four games of the season. Then, the Packers will have a five-week window to have Watson begin practicing again. Once he does resume practice, the Packers would have three weeks to either place him on the 53-man roster or shelve him for the rest of the season.

The original timetable for his return was a minimum of 10 months, which would mean a return in mid-November at the earliest. Watson hopes he can shave a month off that projection and return to the field by mid-October which would be approximately Week 6 or 7.

“From my understanding with the advancements of medicine, we’re really open to looking at a nine-month window,” Watson told reporters on Friday. “They've been transparent with me, and I've been transparent with them about how I'm feeling. If I'm able to get to that 100 percent mark of feeling really good, then I think they’ll open me up.” 

The Packers have traditionally been cautious with their injured players who are returning from similar injuries. They are usually in no rush to get a player on the field until they are certain he has fully recovered and is ready to play again.

There is no doubt Watson wants to play again as soon as possible. He’s entering the final year of his contract and wants every opportunity to prove he can take his game to the next level this year. A strong performance this year by Watson could earn him a lot of money in 2026, whether it’s with the Packers or if he signs with another team as a free agent.

The Packers are clearly a better team when Watson is on the field and healthy. He also has the tools to be a dominant receiver in the NFL; he just hasn’t been able to play at that level on a consistent basis.

GM Brian Gutekunst selected two wide receivers in the first three rounds of this year’s draft to improve an inconsistent receiver room. But even if neither Matthew Golden nor Savion Williams is ready to play a big role in the offense as rookies, the Packers need to be patient with Watson.

The worst thing they can do is rush the player back and have him reinjure his knee or another part of his body because he does too much, too soon. That could mean Watson could be lost for the season or even curtail his pro career.

So far, it seems like Watson and the Packers are on the same page with their plan. The player has been working hard, and the team is pleased with his progress. They need to keep evaluating him and not rush him back until everybody is sure he’s ready to be on the football field.

Hopefully, by then, Watson will have enough time to prove he’s worth another contract with the Packers for 2026. It would benefit both Watson and the Packers if he could reach his full potential when he returns to the team later this season, but it would be a mistake to rush him back to the lineup too soon.