Welp, that pretty much kills his 2025 season as well. 9-12 month recovery, at BEST he'd be back around Thanksgiving 2025.
The Packers will need to find a speedster to take the top off the defense. Gute has work to do in the next draft.
@Packy posted:
"And additional damage" is pretty ominous.
With all the caution they showed with some other players, you really have to question why they played Watson with a brace on his leg in a game that turned out to be meaningless that MLF coached not to win. If I was Watson's agent, I'd point this out pretty vigorously too. Watson is screwed now. He was going to have trouble getting paid on his second contract as it was. Now, he may have to sit out all of 2025 and sign some 1 year, prove-it deal for the minimum. At worst, had he stayed remotely healthy (even dinged up) he was going to get at least something like the 2 years and 20 million MVS got from the Chiefs a couple of years ago.
So, in addition to CB and DL, WR now becomes a top priority in the upcoming draft and FA.
@packerboi posted:It's a good draft for WR's this year. Gotta find a burner that Love can rely on. And if by some miracle Watson stays healthy in '25, then it's just gravy.
bad news: itâs actually a weak year for WRs. A couple of names to watch, thoughâĶ
Savion Williams from TCU is a 6â5â Deebo Samuel or Cordarelle Patterson type. Heâs raw as a receiver, good with the ball in his hands and a potential matchup nightmare.
Antwane Wells Jr from Ole Miss (Cock transfer) looked like a rising star at SC, but didnât have his best season after transferring even though he got to play with a NFL QB prospect in Jackson Dart.
Elic Ayomanor from Stanford is strong, pretty fast and in Sam Steeleâs territory.
Torn ACL for Watson...time to make future plans.
Sucks that the ACL was suffered by a guy who seemed to be developing leadership qualities this season.
Sucks that the ACL occurred to our lone deep threat.
Sucks that the ACL happened to a guy who was up for a contract and now will be down in his final season before free agency.
Sucks that Christian, who injured his other knee 2 weeks ago tonight, was only active because Doubs got sick.
Just sucks overall for the Packers but even more so for Christian Watson.
FML....
Watson has never been healthy enough for long enough to become a "critical part of the offense," in his entire career. His absence will just be another excuse for MLF's play-calling fuckery.
Good teams find ways to win.
We knew we couldn't count on Watson staying healthy. I don't think it changes much. Gute needed to enhance the WR room regardless. This just puts more emphasis on it.
I feel for the dude.
The fact that he tore the ACL, plus other damage, on a non-contact play tells me that ACL was a ticking time bomb waiting to occur at any time. So, it does not matter if he sat out on Sunday, it was eventually going to happen regardless.
@Herschel posted:bad news: itâs actually a weak year for WRs. A couple of names to watch, thoughâĶ
Savion Williams from TCU is a 6â5â Deebo Samuel or Cordarelle Patterson type. Heâs raw as a receiver, good with the ball in his hands and a potential matchup nightmare.
Antwane Wells Jr from Ole Miss (Cock transfer) looked like a rising star at SC, but didnât have his best season after transferring even though he got to play with a NFL QB prospect in Jackson Dart.
Elic Ayomanor from Stanford is strong, pretty fast and in Sam Steeleâs territory.
By no means do I claim to be a draft guru, way more guys including you know more about this than I would. But PFF claims it's a "good" year for the WR class:
WIDE RECEIVER: GOOD
Every year is a good year for the wide receiver class, but it doesnât feel as star-studded at the top compared to 2024. Arizonaâs Tetairoa McMillan will be coveted by every team in the top 10, as will two-way phenom Travis Hunter. After them, Luther Burden III, Isaiah Bond and Emeka Egbuka all possess first-round talent. Itâs not quite the top-10-rich class weâve seen in years past, but it is a good one nonetheless.
2025 NFL Draft: Strongest, weakest position groups in the class
I would assume Gute kicks the tires on FA's as well.
Then there will be guys who become trade bait that are currently under contract. For example, Tyreek Hill who now wants out of Miami.
@DurangoDoug posted:So, it does not matter if he sat out on Sunday, it was eventually going to happen regardless.
It probably would've happened vs. the Eagles. That's worse. At least they can plan the entire week for his absence now.
J-Love: F**k it.....Reed down there somewhere!! Chuck & duck time!
@SteveLuke posted:Sucks that the ACL was suffered by a guy who seemed to be developing leadership qualities this season.
Sucks that the ACL occurred to our lone deep threat.
Sucks that the ACL happened to a guy who was up for a contract and now will be down in his final season before free agency.
Sucks that Christian, who injured his other knee 2 weeks ago tonight, was only active because Doubs got sick.
Just sucks overall for the Packers but even more so for Christian Watson.
Sucks that it was non-contact on the other leg.
Rookie WR are seldom impactful....limited as Watson has been cuz health, he's still a veteran and he's going to be hard to replace with a rook. Packers may need to dip into FA market.
MVS is available...
Seems like they've been more impactful more recently, like the last 3 years.
They need to find some vet leadership for the WR room anyway so I think Gute may be looking at FA anyway.
@ilcuqui posted:If the price is right, go for it. Valuable when used correctly, heâs carved out a nice career and by all accounts is a hard working, good teammate.
Yup...in the right offense, he still has skills that can be useful. 30, but he's still very fast. Not Watson fast, but more durable. Lots of other UFA will be available also, but probably too old or rich for the Packers blood.
There will be options other than the draft.
@ByRyanWood: Christian Watson came to Matt LaFleur on Friday and asked if he could play vs. Bears if he practiced Friday. There was "a lot of discussion" about whether that was a good idea. Ultimately, there was confidence in his knee: "It's just an unfortunate circumstance that transpired."
@Boris posted:It probably would've happened vs. the Eagles. That's worse. At least they can plan the entire week for his absence now.
J-Love: F**k it.....Reed down there somewhere!! Chuck & duck time!
Yep. More than likely, he was subconsciously favoring/overcompensating with the non-injured knee which in part caused the ACL tear. Heard Tausch among other former players who tore theirs state this happens a lot.
Just fucking sucks, some players enter this league and that damn injury bug is something you never shake.
@KenIngalls: Christian Watson likely starts 2025 on PUP. Since it's the last year of his contract, if he remains on PUP the entire season (including postseason) his contract would toll and would remain under contract in 2026, delaying potential free agency to 2027.
Interesting.
Most of all, I like his attitude. He's a definite team guy who's always excited for other guys when they succeed. It seems like he doesn't have a jealous bone in his body (not so his dad) and is a friend to Doubs (who could use one). He could be a great leader of this group if he could just stay on the field. And he was coming along in his ability to catch the ball as well. That sideline catch of a few weeks ago? Few guys make that. I feel bad for the kid.
@SteveLuke posted:Sucks that the ACL was suffered by a guy who seemed to be developing leadership qualities this season.
Sucks that the ACL occurred to our lone deep threat.
Sucks that the ACL happened to a guy who was up for a contract and now will be down in his final season before free agency.
Sucks that Christian, who injured his other knee 2 weeks ago tonight, was only active because Doubs got sick.
Just sucks overall for the Packers but even more so for Christian Watson.
And it sucks even more as it was a non-contact injury. He tripped on the turf. Damn that sucks! Praying he pulls through this injury and recovery.
I don't even think he tripped. It looked like it just blew while he was running or about to change direction, which made him stumble and drop. Not all that unlike when Jordy went down. His route was different but the way he just dropped after changing direction without contact.
Here are guys slated to be FAs. Of course some may be resigned, and there may be others who aren't on this list that may become available (Tyrkee Hill)
1) Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
2) Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
3) Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4) Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
5) DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs
6) Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens
7) Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs
8) Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
9) Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns
10) Mike Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers
prior to the ACL tear, I was wondering if Gute could swing Watson and a draft pick for Higgins somehow. that thought evaporated fast today.
some people can't stay healthy in the nfl. I feel it's time to move on
NFL Live had a graphic today showing our passing offense numbers with and without Watson ..... fairly significant difference in total yards, average yards per attempt, and plays over 20 yards.
I feel bad for the kid but I think heâs done. His biggest asset is his speed. How fast is he going to be after a year of ACL rehab?âĶespecially with the other lower body injuries heâs sustained over the last three seasons.
@bdplant posted:His biggest asset is his speed. How fast is he going to be after a year of ACL rehab?âĶ
Today's ACL/MCL surgeries and rehab are not what they were 20-30 years ago and beyond.
WRs John Ross & Jeremy Macklin
Ross comes back 2016 and sets a (then) Combine record in in the 40 yard dash. Macklin missed all of 2013 but had his best season the following year after ACL surgery, and another stellar season the year after that.
Adrian Peterson tore his ACL in 2011 and 9 months later he returned, and then rushed for over 2000 yards.
Tom Brady tore his ACL and I don't think it impacted his "speed" at all following recovery.
From what I've read, as long as the surgery goes fine and there aren't post surgery complications (see Bahk), then it's really up to Watson. If he rehabs hard (I think he will, seems like the kind of guy that is serious about rehab), then I think he enters 2026 with as much speed as he currently has.
If we haven't already called MVS, then shame on us. Can you image Tyreek Hill in this offense? Diva, yes. Playmaker, hell yes.
Yeah, gotta love AI. Everything but the intelligence.
How about taking a flyer on Chiefs practice squad WR Tyquan Thornton. He's 6' 2" and ran a 4.21/4.28 in the 2022 Combine. Was originally drafted by the Pats. Not certain why he was released in his third season.
Also, Parris Campbell is on Philly's practice squad. Former 2nd Rounder who is big bodied and had some speed before PCL/MCL injury a few years back. Was a blue chipper coming out of college and has vet experience. He's oft-injured, but it's the end of the season, so is that really an issue (assuming he's healthy.
Quez Watkins is another WR on the Steelers practice squad. Has good size and also blazing speed. Another plus is a fair amount of real game experience and production to include 5 playoff games.
I doubt the Packers will look at other teams PS, rather looking in house. But I'm just throwing out names.
What about an increased role for Melton? Doesn't he have the speed to stretch the field?
@RochNyFan posted:What about an increased role for Melton? Doesn't he have the speed to stretch the field?
He has the speed, but apparently he's not much of a factor for some reason.
Melton posted an outstanding 40 time at the combine but never showed that type of speed on the field in college, nor as a pro. . He doesn't get off press coverage well nor have a great catch radius. Seems like a great kid who was a two time team captain at Rutgers, but appears destined to be a 5th-6th WR in the NFL.