Watson is reportedly already post-surgery on the torn ACL he suffered in Week 18. Gutekunst added that “everything so far’s been really good. He’s been through this before, so he knows what to expect. It’s a big injury. It may take some time, but he’s got the right mindset, positive attitude toward it.” We’d be surprised (in a good way) if Watson was able to come back at midseason, but not every ACL is the same and it’s possible Watson’s tear was clean enough that he could hit that timeline. The Packers will soldier on with Dontayvion Wicks in Watson’s stead unless they acquire another wideout this offseason.

This makes sense given how late in the season the injury occurred. It’s likely that Watson starts the year on the PUP list and, depending on how his recovery is going, eventually gets a 21-day window opened for his return in the first or second month of the season. Asked if the Packers were going to pursue another wideout in Watson’s absence, GM Brian Gutekunst said "[If] that makes some sense for us, we’ll certainly look to do that, but we’re also looking for these guys to continue to grow and hopefully grow into that space.” It seems more likely that the Packers will continue with Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed as their main receivers while giving Dontayvion Wicks another shot outside based on that quote.

“It’s not good,” LaFleur said when asked about Watson’s injury on Monday. While we still don’t know the full severity of Watson’s injury, we do know that initial tests confirmed a torn ACL, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier in the day that Watson is believed to have “suffered additional damage” beyond that. It sounds like Watson will be on a long road to recover in time for the start of the 2025 season. His absence in the postseason will likely lead to more opportunities for both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks on Sunday against the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round.

Rapoport notes that Watson is believed to have “suffered additional damage” in addition to his ACL injury. It’s a devastating blow to the Packers and Watson, who has struggled to stay healthy during the first three years of his career. With his season likely over, Watson will undergo further evaluation to determine the extent of the damage, his availability for the start of the 2025 season is undoubtedly in question. Watson caught 29 passes for 620 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games this season, and has appeared in just 38 of a possible 51 games since being drafted in 2022.