Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love lost a major weapon in his team's 24-22 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
Star wide receiver Christian Watson tore his ACL and suffered further damage to his knee, ending his season and jeopardizing the start of next season, according to NFL Network.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed the news on Monday, saying Watson will be out for the rest of the year.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, number 9, during the second quarter during a football game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday, January 5, 2025. He was injured and left the field in a cart. (Imagination)
Watson, 25, was injured running a route in the second quarter when he grabbed his knee on a non-contact play and crouched on the ground.
LaFleur talked about what losing Watson means for the offense.
“Yeah, it's a big loss, just his presence on the field. He has the versatility to play multiple positions. You can put him in X, F, Z. and you can move him anywhere “Obviously, he has an element that's hard to replicate in terms of his size and speed, but there aren't many players around the league with his size, but I was hurt for him.'' That’s it,” LaFleur said at a press conference Monday.
“Obviously it hurts the team, but it hurts him even more. I know how committed he is to this and, like all of our players, you never want to see something like that. No, and that's a disappointing part of our game.”
Watson was questionable in Week 18 with a knee injury, but LaFleur said the knee he injured in the game was actually his other knee, which he wasn't concerned about.
Rob Gronkowski reverses Patriots' decision to fire Jerrod Mayo after one season
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, No. 9, is injured and treated during the first quarter of a game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, January 5, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. are. The Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-22. (Imagination)
LaFleur said she is confident in how Watson will approach his rehabilitation.
“But like I told him, I know he's going to come at it the right way and he's going to handle adversity and it's just going to be a challenge for him and I'm sure he'll get better. “I think he's going to come back. That's just the way he is. He's got the build, he's got the personality, so I think there's going to be good things to come,” LaFleur said.
Watson is in his third season after being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State.
This season, Watson had 29 catches for 620 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games. The deep threat ranks second in the NFL in yards per reception, averaging 21.4 yards per catch.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson, number 9, rushes while playing the football during the second quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field. (Jeff Hanisch-Iman Images)
The Packers finished the season with an 11-6 record and are the seventh seed in the NFC. They will play the second-seeded Philadelphia Eagles on the road in the wild card round.
Without Watson, the Packers will rely on wide receivers Jaden Reed, Romeo Dubbs, Dontavion Wicks and Malik Heath to replace him.
The Packers and Eagles will play on Sunday at 4:30pm ET on FOX.
Follow sports coverage on Fox News Digital's X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
