The Packers are playing it safe to start the year with Christian Watson.
According to Zach Jacobson of 247Sports the team placed the wide receiver on the active/PUP list Friday as he continues recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 18 of last season. While the move was expected, it casts more doubt on Watson’s availability to start the regular season as Week 1 is versus the Detroit Lions on Sept. 7.
It’s said this is a procedural step for Packers to continue monitoring his progress. If his recovery doesn’t progress in time for the regular season, the team could shift him to the reserve/PUP list by the Aug. 26 roster cutdown, which would sideline him for at least the first four games.
Watson is just over six months removed from the injury, which typically requires 9–12 months for full recovery. That timeline alone makes a Week 1 return highly unlikely especially for an athlete as explosive as Watson.
Still, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has remained upbeat about Watson’s condition. In May, he told Ryan Wood of USA Today:
"He looks like a freak, like he always does. In a positive way."
Watson's rehab has been steady, but the Packers are expected to take a cautious approach to avoid setbacks with one of their most dynamic offensive weapons.
The Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list keeps players off the field during training camp but allows them to be activated at any point before the season begins. However, if a player is still on the list after the final 53-man roster is set, they are moved to the reserve/PUP list and must miss at least four regular-season games to start the season.
That makes the August 26 roster deadline a key date for Watson’s 2025 season. If he’s not cleared by then, he won’t be eligible to return until Week 5 at the earliest.
Watson’s absence would leave Jordan Love without one of his top deep threats. When healthy, his speed and size stretch defenses and open up the field for the rest of Green Bay’s young receiver corps.
If Watson misses time, those guys below him in the depth chart will shoulder a larger load, with rookie wideouts and tight ends potentially seeing expanded roles early in the season.
The Packers haven’t ruled Watson out for the season opener yet, but reading between the lines, a return in September feels unlikely. Unless he makes a rapid leap in recovery during camp, expect Green Bay to prioritize long-term health over rushing him back into action.
For now, Watson remains one of the most important injury storylines to watch as the Packers open training camp and inch closer to kickoff against the division rivals the Lions.