Life Is About Choices; Did Packers Make One With Christian Watson Contract?

Compared to Watson, Doubs has been the statistically superior player. His three seasons have finished with 59 receptions in 2023, 46 receptions in 2024 and 42 receptions in 2022. That’s more catches than Watson had in any of his three seasons.

In the 2022 draft class of receivers, Doubs ranks sixth in receptions (Watson is 10th), sixth in yards (Watson is eighth) and tied for first in touchdowns (Watson is fourth).

“I’m in Year 4,” Doubs said on Tuesday when asked about leadership. “For so long, it was always being a young guy. Being a veteran in this offense, I am here to take on that role just to make sure that all of the receivers, or just the offense in general, is all on the same page together.”

Doubs, of course, was suspended last season, which will complicate his future, whether in Green Bay or elsewhere.

“My goal going into this year,” Doubs said during OTAs, “is to be a winner, obviously, to be a player within this offense and, ultimately, to help out two receivers that are coming in, not coming in, but that are here learning the system.”

Doubs caught 2-of-4 passes for 68 yards last week, highlighted by a 48-yard catch – the first reception of 40-plus yards in his career – to set up Reed’s touchdown that put the Packers in front 17-3.

Doubs had a limited role against the Lions. Then again, so did everybody. Green Bay ran only 47 plays and threw 22 passes. Jordan Love spread the love, with 10 players catching at least one pass.

“It’s complementary football. It’s the flow of the game,” Doubs said. “Just making sure that, play by play, just know our detail. As long as we execute it, we’ll always get the result that we want.”

Including Sunday, Doubs has played in 44 regular-season games in his career. He still hasn’t hit 100 yards. The Packers, however, are 7-1 when he has at least 68 receiving yards in a game.

Watson in 39 regular-season games has hit 100 yards five times. That includes his four catches for 150 yards to help fuel the come-from-behind victory at Chicago last season. However, he suffered a torn ACL in the rematch against Chicago on Jan. 5. He’ll be on the physically unable to perform list through at least Week 4.

Watson has said he’s ahead of schedule, which no doubt made the extension a solid decision from the Packers’ perspective.

“It’s tough because, when you see him run – I’m sure you guys have seen him run, too – you want to throw him out there, right?” general manager Brian Gutekunst said during camp. “But there’s kind of a timeline with these ACLs and, certainly, he’s ahead of the curve, there’s no doubt about it.

“But, at the same time, he’s got a long career in front of him, so we want to make sure we take the proper steps and we don’t skip any steps along the way. After that fourth game, I’m sure he’s going to be chomping at the bit and it’s going to take a lot of us to hold him back.”