Christian Watson injury update: Packers WR gives firm timeline for return to practice originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Green Bay Packers will soon see the return of wide receiver Christian Watson, who is working his way back from a knee injury.

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Watson, who has had issues with injuries in the past, suffered a torn ACL in January that prevented him from playing in the postseason.

Despite his past with injuries, the Packers showed faith in the 26-year-old wideout by giving him a one-year contract extension that will keep him in Green Bay through 2026.

“It was really just to take that pressure off myself, so I can go out there when I get back and just play free,” he said to reporters. “It’s definitely a blessing. It means a lot to me, and I’m glad we were able to get it done. I feel like I knew how appreciated I was in the building just from being in the building every day.”

Christian Watson injury update

While Watson doesn’t have an exact timeline yet to play in a game, he recently told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that he plans on getting back to work on the practice field when he is eligible, which is Week 6.

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“I think that’s up to the training staff, but I’d assume whenever my window opens up, I’ll be able to work in a little bit,” Watson said on Monday.

Watson, who started the season on the physically unable to perform list, would typically be allowed to get back on the practice field in Week 5, but that is not possible in this scenario because the Packers are on bye that week.

Watson’s return is even more important than it otherwise would be after the Packers lost fellow wideout Jayden Reed to a broken collarbone that is going to land him on injured reserve and force him to miss six to eight weeks.

Once Watson is designated to return from the physically unable to perform list, the Packers will have 21 days to activate him.

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It remains to be seen if that will happen immediately or if the Packers will take it slow, but if Green Bay keeps playing the way it has over the first two weeks, the team can take its time with Watson.

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