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Christian Justus Watson (born May 12, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State, and was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Early life

Watson was born in Phoenix, Arizona and grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he attended Henry B. Plant High School. He played for Plant's junior varsity football team for his first two years of high school. Watson began his freshman year at 5-foot-9 and ended his senior season at 6-foot-2. He gained 20 pounds between his junior and senior years. His growth allowed him to be more successful on the field, where he caught 23 passes for 393 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior.

Watson was lightly recruited coming out of high school, in large part due to a lack of playing time until his senior season. He committed to play college football at North Dakota State University entering his senior year.

High school statistics

College career

Watson played for the North Dakota State Bison. Watson redshirted his freshman season. As a redshirt freshman the following year, he caught nine passes for 165 yards as the Bison won the 2018 FCS national championship. As a redshirt sophomore, Watson caught 34 passes for 732 yards and six touchdowns and was named second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC).

He had 19 catches for 442 yards and one touchdown and was named first-team All-MVFC and 1st team All-American (AP) as an All-Purpose player in his redshirt junior season, which was shortened and played in early 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He repeated as a first-team All-MVFC selection, and was named second-team All-American(AP) after catching 43 passes for 801 yards and seven touchdowns in his redshirt senior season. Watson and the Bison won the 2021 FCS national championship, beating Montana State 38–10. He missed almost the entire postseason in his senior season. Watson also played in the 2022 Senior Bowl where he was voted National WR of the Week.

College statistics

North Dakota State Bison
Season	GP	Receiving				Rushing
		Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2017	Redshirt
2018	14	9	165	18.3	0	0	0	0.0	0
2019	16	34	732	21.5	6	13	162	12.5	1
2020	10	19	442	23.3	1	21	116	5.5	0
2021	12	43	801	18.6	7	15	114	7.6	1
Career	52	105	2,140	20.4	14	49	392	8.0	2
Source: gobison.com

Professional career

2022

Watson was selected as the second pick of the second round (34th overall) in the 2022 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was the seventh wide receiver selected in the draft. Watson was the only wide receiver from North Dakota State University to be drafted in the past thirty-seven years. On July 20, 2022, he signed his rookie contract, a four-year deal with the Packers worth $9,241,031.

During the offseason, Watson suffered a minor knee injury that required him to undergo knee surgery which caused him to miss the majority of training camp.

Watson made his NFL debut in a Week 1 game against the Minnesota Vikings. On his first snap, Watson beat former All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson on his route, but dropped what would have been a 75-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers. After the dropped pass, Rodgers did not look toward Watson until the end of the fourth quarter. He finished the game with two receptions for 32 yards, and rushing once for an additional seven in the 23–7 loss. In Week 4, against the New England Patriots, Watson scored his first NFL touchdown on a 15-yard rush.

During Week 8, in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills, Watson suffered from a concussion. Watson caught a 12-yard pass during their first offensive possession, and he received a hard hit to the head. He was able to walk off the field and was ruled out for the rest of the game.

In Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, Watson had a breakout performance, catching four passes for 107 yards and three touchdowns in the 31–28 overtime win. After multiple drops on the opening drive, Watson scored the Packers' longest and second longest touchdowns of the season, a 58-yard score from Rodgers in the second quarter, and a 39-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter. He also scored a 7-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter to tie the game near the end of regulation. For this performance, Watson won NFL Week 10 Rookie of the Week. In the following game against the Tennessee Titans, Watson had 4 catches for 48 yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 27–17 loss. 10 days later, on Sunday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles, Watson caught 4 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, including a 63-yarder from backup quarterback Jordan Love that he caught at midfield and took to the house. For his performance in the month of November, Watson was awarded Rookie of the Month.

In Week 13 against the Bears, Watson had 3 receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for a 46-yard touchdown to extend the Packers' lead to seven late in the game. With his eighth touchdown in four games, Watson matched Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss's rookie record for most touchdowns in a four-game span.

Watson finished his rookie year with 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, as well as two rushing touchdowns. Watson tied with Jahan Dotson for the most receiving and with Kenneth Walker III for most total touchdowns among all rookies.

2023

While having perfect attendance during training camp, Watson started off the 2023 season with a hamstring injury, causing him to miss practice. He was subsequently marked inactive for the first three games. Watson would be marked active for Week 4, against the Detroit Lions. In his season debut, he had two receptions for 25 yards and a touchdown during the 34–20 loss. In Week 13, against the Chiefs, he had two receiving touchdowns in the 27–19 victory. Week 13 was Watson's last action during the 2023 regular season due to lingering hamstring issues. He finished with 28 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns. He returned for the Packers' two postseason games.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Personal life

Watson's father, Tim Watson, played safety in the NFL during the 1990s for the Packers, Eagles, Chiefs, and Giants. He was a sixth-round selection of the Packers in the 1993 NFL draft. His father now goes by Tazim Wajid Wajed.

Watson has four siblings, a brother and three sisters. Watson's older brother, Tre Watson, played linebacker at Maryland and Illinois and was an All-Big Ten selection. He currently plays in the XFL.

Watson married his college sweetheart, Lakyn Adkins on April 5, 2024.

References

1. Putnam, Bob (January 10, 2020). "North Dakota State-James Madison title tilt has Tampa Bay ties". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
2. ^ Schneidman, Matt (May 27, 2022). "What is Christian Watson capable of? The Packers hope it's a quick connection with his QB". The Athletic. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
3. ^ Hodkiewicz, Wes (May 23, 2022). "Loyalty, character, winner: The makeup of Christian Watson and his journey to the NFL". Packers.com. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
4. Hughes, Connor (February 18, 2022). "Christian Watson's big Senior Bowl week creates buzz about receiver's NFL Draft potential". The Athletic. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
5. Peterson, Eric (August 9, 2019). "Watson, Sproles lead young NDSU receiving corps". The Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
6. Kolpack, Jeff (January 8, 2020). "How fast is Christian Watson? He's 23 mph fast, and Bison football has GPS to prove it". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
7. "NDSU's Watson named to Walter Payton Award watch list". Minot Daily News. August 5, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
8. Izzo, Dom (January 11, 2022). "Former Bison wide receiver Watson receives NFL combine invite". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
9. Selvig, Dave (April 30, 2022). "NDSU's Volson picked in fourth round by Bengals; Cowboys draft UND's Waletzko". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
10. Selvig, Dave (August 2, 2022). "Bison open season as FCS favorite". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
11. Peterson, Eric (January 5, 2022). "Bison wide receiver Christian Watson accepts invitation to Reeses Senior Bowl all-star game". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
12. Reischel, Rob (April 29, 2022). "The Green Bay Packers Hope Christian Watson Can Be Their Next Sensational Second-Round Wideout". Forbes. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
13. "Christian Watson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
14. "Christian Watson, North Dakota State, WR, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
15. "Christian Watson 2022 NFL Draft Profile". ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
16. "2022 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
17. Hodkiewicz, Wes (April 29, 2022). "2022 NFL Draft: Packers select North Dakota State WR Christian Watson in second round, No. 34 overall". Packers.com. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
18. ^ Hodkiewicz, Wes (May 23, 2022). "Loyalty, character, winner: The makeup of Christian Watson and his journey to the NFL". Packers.com. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
19. "Packers sign WR Christian Watson". Packers.com. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
20. Huber, Bill (July 19, 2022). "Watson Remains Unsigned as Training Camp Approaches". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
21. Jacobson, Zachary (August 21, 2022). "Packers rookie wideout Christian Watson upgraded to team drills in practice". 247Sports. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
22. Rand, Michael. "Packers' poor play puts Aaron Rodgers in Hall of Fame of bad body language". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
23. Silverstein, Tom (September 11, 2022). "After dropping sure TD pass, Packers rookie receiver Christian Watson vows 'that is a play I am going to make 99 times out of 100'". Packers News. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
24. "Packers' Christian Watson: Wastes early opportunity". CBSSports.com. September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
25. Huber, Bill (September 11, 2022). "The One That Got Away: Watson Drops Opening Bomb vs. Vikings". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
26. "New England Patriots at Green Bay Packers – October 2nd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
27. Demovsky, Rob (October 31, 2022). "Packers lose Watson to concussion; Walker tossed". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
28. Benjamin, Cody (November 14, 2022). "Packers vs. Cowboys score: Aaron Rodgers, Christian Watson explode in comeback to upset Dallas at Lambeau". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
29. "Packers WR Christian Watson named NFL Rookie of Week 10". Packers.com. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
30. "Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers – November 17th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
31. "Christian Watson's best catches from 110-yard game | Week 12". NFL.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
32. "Packers WR Christian Watson named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for November". Packers.com. December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
33. Huber, Bill (December 5, 2022). "For Record-Setting Watson, Scoring Touchdowns Is Elementary". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
34. "Christian Watson 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
35. "Most receiving touchdowns by a rookie, 2022 NFL season". StatMuse. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
36. "Most total touchdowns by a rookie, 2022 NFL season". StatMuse. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
37. Blanco, Juan Carlos (September 10, 2023). "Week 1 Injury Report: Mark Andrews likely out; Darren Waller, George Kittle likely in; Christian Watson out". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
38. Smith, Michael David (September 17, 2023). "Packers expect to be without Aaron Jones, Christian Watson vs. Falcons". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
39. Kownack, Bobby (September 17, 2023). "Aaron Jones, Christian Watson inactive for Packers-Falcons". NFL.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
40. "Packers' Christian Watson: Making season debut Thursday". CBSSports.com. September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
41. "Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers - September 28th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
42. "Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers - December 3rd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
43. Smith, Coral (May 26, 2024). "Packers WR Christian Watson hoping to put hamstring injuries behind him with work on leg strength 'symmetry'". NFL.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
44. "Christian Watson 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
45. McFeely, Mike (January 7, 2022). "McFeely: Once under the radar, Bison receiver Watson's next stop is the NFL". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
46. "1993 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
47. Huber, Bill (May 2, 2022). "Like Father, Like Son: The Christian Watson Story". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
48. Kuhagen, Christopher (April 9, 2024). "Packers wide receiver Christian Watson marries college sweetheart Lakyn Adkins in gorgeous Malibu wedding overlooking mountains". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 27, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from ESPN · Yahoo Sports · Pro Football Reference
• Green Bay Packers bio
• North Dakota State Bison bio

• 1999 births
• Living people
• Players of American football from Tampa, Florida
• American football wide receivers
• North Dakota State Bison football players
• Green Bay Packers players
• Henry B. Plant High School alumni