Packers give Christian Watson one-year, $13.25 million extension as he rehabs torn ACL
The deal keeps the wide receiver in Green Bay through 2026 while he recovers from knee surgery following a Week 18 injury
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson signed a one-year contract extension worth $13.25 million on Tuesday, keeping him with the team through the 2026 season while he rehabs a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained late last season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
Watson is on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list as he recovers from ACL surgery that followed the Week 18 injury that ended his 2024 campaign early. The 26-year-old is expected to return to the field later this season, but the team has given him a recovery timeline consistent with standard ACL rehabilitation.
General manager Brian Gutekunst spoke positively about Watson's progress during training camp, saying the receiver has exceeded some expectations in his recovery. “When you see him run … like you want to throw him out there, right? But there’s kind of a timeline with these ACLs, and we’re certainly, he’s ahead of the curve,” Gutekunst said. He added that the team intends to follow the proper steps in Watson’s rehabilitation and resist rushing him back into action, predicting Watson would be eager to return after the fourth game of the season.
Watson, who was entering the final year of a four-year rookie contract, made 29 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. Selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, he had a strong rookie season with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns. Across three NFL seasons, Watson has missed 13 regular-season games and compiled 98 receptions for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The extension gives the Packers short-term salary certainty for a player who has shown big-play capability but has also had availability issues. Watson’s size and speed have made him a vertical threat for Green Bay, and the team has sought to maintain continuity in its receiving corps, which includes Romeo Doubs and other playmakers.
Watson’s rehabilitation timeline is typical for ACL recoveries, which often last nine months to a year depending on the player and the specifics of the surgery and rehab. The Packers’ cautious approach reflects both Watson’s value as a downfield target and the medical uncertainty that can accompany a return from a major knee injury.
The one-year extension will keep Watson under contract through 2026 while the team evaluates his post-surgery performance. The Packers have publicly expressed confidence in his long-term potential and emphasized the importance of a measured recovery process before inserting him back into game action.