The injury occurred following a spectacular 53-yard reception, during which Watson appeared to land awkwardly. Despite the nature of the incident, the receiver was able to walk off the field under his own power. He proceeded to the locker room unassisted and was observed climbing into an ambulance while still wearing his pads, highlighting the urgency of the medical assessment.
A swift return to the gridiron
Watson’s absence from the game was brief. He made his way back to the stadium and emerged from the tunnel to rejoin the Packers' sideline with 6:56 remaining in the third quarter. He officially re-entered the contest with 4:01 left in the period and quickly made his presence felt again, hauling in a 5-yard reception on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
This incident mirrors a similar situation from December 15 of last season, when Watson was sent to a hospital in Denver to undergo checks for potential broken ribs. On that occasion, tests returned negative results, and he was cleared to play in the following game. His performance prior to the injury on Thursday was impactful, as he had already recorded six catches for 100 yards.
Statistical impact and team updates
The 53-yard reception that preceded his exit marked Watson’s third catch of 50 or more yards this season, a figure that leads the NFL. Since 2022, he has accumulated 11 receptions of at least 50 yards, placing him second in the league behind Nico Collins, who has 12. Additionally, the play was his 13th reception of 20 or more yards this season, trailing only Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has 14.
While Watson was able to return to the fray, the game saw other injury concerns. Tight end Josh Whyle was officially ruled out for the remainder of the evening after sustaining a concussion.
