On Monday Night Football in Week 16, the Packers faced the Saints at home. Green Bay quickly built a 21-0 lead by halftime and played a dominant fourth quarter. They defeated New Orleans 34-0 to earn their first shutout of the 2024 season. It was Green Bay’s first shutout since the 2021 season.
Additionally, the Packers qualified for the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. In that win, WR Kristin Watson suffered an injury in the second quarter. The Saints defender took a knee and Watson did not return to the game. Coach Matt LaFleur said he had “concerns” about Watson’s knee injury. The 25-year-old will undergo further tests this week.
Christian Watson suffered a knee injury against the Saints on Monday night.
Matt LaFleur says he has “some concerns” about Christian Watson. After trying to come back, he said, “I stopped playing because I couldn’t play the type of football I wanted to play.”
Jacobs could have gone back in, but the plan was to let him get some rest tonight if possible.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 24, 2024
In the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Packers selected WR Christian Watson out of North Dakota State. He appeared in 37 games and made 34 starts over three seasons in Green Bay. The best season of his career was his rookie season, when he appeared in 14 games and made 11 starts. Watson had a career-high 41 catches and seven touchdowns. His 620 receiving yards in 2024 are a career high, but his overall production has declined this season.
Injuries have been an issue Watson has had to deal with since before he joined the NFL. This season, Watson has started 14 of 15 games for the Packers. He missed time in all three professional seasons. Watson forced a defender to kneel after a 14-yard gain in the second quarter. The former second-round pick left the game and did not return. Green Bay still has to play the Vikings and Bears to end the 2024 season. We’ll see if Christian Watson plays in that game or if the Packers rest him for the playoffs. The Packers are technically still alive to win the division in 2024, but they will likely be a No. 5 seed or lower.
