OFFICIAL: Packers sign WR Christian Watson to one-year, $13.25 million contract extension

When Christian Watson finally makes it back from ACL surgery, the Green Bay wideout won't be stepping onto the field with his future hanging in the balance.

According to his agent Adisa Bakari, Watson has locked in a fresh one-year deal worth $13.25 million, a move first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The extension keeps the 26-year-old in Green Bay for another season, sparing him from hitting free agency in 2026.

A second-round pick back in 2022, Watson was entering the final year of his rookie contract before the Packers opted to secure his services for at least one more run.

The big-play wideout went down with a torn ACL in last year’s regular-season finale against the Chicago Bears and is still sidelined as he works his way back. He'll start the season on the physically unable to perform list, ruling him out for at least the first four games.

Green Bay has a history of taking a cautious approach with players returning from ACL surgery, usually keeping them out close to 10 months. Still, head coach Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst have both praised Christian Watson's recovery throughout the offseason, noting encouraging progress.

Injuries have been a recurring hurdle for Watson in his young career, but when he’s healthy, the numbers speak volumes. Over 38 games in three seasons, he’s hauled in 98 passes for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns. His ability to stretch the field is elite—his 16.9 yards per catch since 2022 ranks third in the NFL among players with at least 75 grabs.

It’s a bold move by Green Bay, considering it’s not every day you see a player ink an extension while sitting on the physically unable to perform list. Christian Watson is still in the thick of his ACL rehab from 2024, but his recovery has drawn plenty of optimism—his father even claimed the receiver has already been clocked running 22 MPH. Officially, Watson can’t hit the practice field until Week 6, right after the Packers’ bye week.

From both sides, the deal lines up perfectly. For Watson, it provides the kind of financial security every player seeks, especially with his future clouded by injury. In the NFL, timing is everything, most veterans cash in on their second contract. But with Watson entering what would’ve been a contract year while sidelined, the extension ensures he doesn’t miss out on a big payday just because of bad injury luck.