Packers Q&A with Christian Watson

By: 
Bill Huber
Correspondent

Having traded Davante Adams, the Packers entered the 2022 NFL Draft in dire need of an impact receiver. Early in the second round, general manager Brian Gutekunst sent his two second-round picks, Nos. 53 and 59, to Minnesota in exchange for pick No. 34, which he used on Watson.

After dropping a 75-yard touchdown pass on his first NFL snap and playing only 81 snaps the next eight games due to injuries, Watson has scored eight touchdowns the last four weeks — tied with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for most in NFL history by a rookie receiver. After scoring two touchdowns at Chicago, here was his postgame interview.

Q: You caught the touchdown pass on fourth down. Even though you missed so much time, do you feel like you have chemistry with Aaron Rodgers?

A: For sure. For sure. I think the more reps I get with 12, the better that chemistry gets. I’ve got a ways to go personally, in terms of getting to the level that I want to be at, to be able to connect with 12 even more, but I’m still a work in progress.

Q: Do you feel unstoppable? Not every play but that you’re too talented to be stopped for too long?

A: I think that’s my mindset, for sure. That’s the mentality everyone has to have, honestly, when they’re out there. When you’re going every single play, it’s a one-on-one between you and the man across from you. So, I think that’s the mentality everyone has out there, and it’s definitely the mentality I have, for sure.

Q: Have you thought about what your numbers might be and where this team would be if not for the injuries?

A: Obviously, there’s what ifs and stuff like that, but I can’t predict any of that. I think that God had a plan for me and it’s working out just the way he planned.

Q: You got bragging rights over the Bears. Do you have a feel for the rivalry?

A: For sure. I definitely had a feel for it and just the intensity of the game. I felt it from the first drive. Obviously, you feel the fight every single play, and I mean, it’s exciting to get any win, but it’s definitely exciting to get a win against the Bears and get a win against an NFC North opponent.

Q: What’s the feeling of taking the all-time NFL lead with 787 wins?

A: It’s exciting. I can only speak for myself but I truly feel blessed to be part of an organization like the Green Bay Packers. Regardless of how the season so far has gone for us, I’m just happy to be part of this organization.

Q: Can you take us through the jet-sweep touchdown? You got past Sammy Watkins and he started celebrating. What’s that feeling like?

A: Yeah, to be honest, if I see nothing in front of me, it’s looking pretty good. Honestly, that’s exactly what I saw: I saw no one. I saw the corner go in with Sammy on his little crack block and I knew if the corner’s not coming off there’s no one that’s going to make the play from the inside.

Q: Was your leap into the end zone planned?

A: No, actually, that was not planned at all and, when I was in midair, I had no clue what I was doing. So, I’ve got to come up with something beforehand if I’m going to do something like that because that was definitely not what I was trying to do or planned on doing.

Q: The last four games, you’ve had 17 touches and eight touchdowns. Have you ever had a stretch like that?

A: I have not. I have not. Not even close, honestly. Obviously, having a run-first team in college, we weren’t relying as much on the pass game as we were the run game in college. So, it wasn’t expected of me nor were the opportunities always present. But I’m just doing what I can with the opportunities when they come.

Q: Entering the draft, some scouts thought you were really talented but really raw. Have you improved that much during your time or were you pegged as being rawer than you actually were?

A: I think I was definitely pegged as being rawer than I truly was. I definitely feel like I have a lot of growth, a lot of potential, as well. I was in an offense that was really successful at what we did and, if I only needed to run three or four routes for us to be successful and win championships in college, then that’s exactly what we were going to do.

But I think there was a lot that scouts or anyone who turned on the tape wasn’t able to see out of me just because we didn’t need to do that to be successful. So, I think I’ve been able to continue to prove that I can do more and more than people thought I could do, but I think there’s a lot of room for growth, as well.

AT A GLANCE

Number: 9

Age: 23

Season: Rookie

Position: Wide receiver

College: North Dakota State