GREEN BAY, Wis. – On the seventh play of the 18th practice of training camp, Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson ran an in-breaking route and caught a pass from Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.
It was the first for Watson, who opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list, in a true practice setting. Rasul Douglas was the nearest defender. He added another later, a slant in which he showed plenty of burst after making the catch.
“It feels amazing just to be able to up against the defense and get some live reps,” Watson said afterward. “It feels like it’s been a long time coming for me. It’s only been a few weeks but I feel like it’s definitely been a long time coming and I’ve been itching to get back out there. So, it feels great.”
Itching, indeed.
Watson, who underwent a minor knee operation at the end of the offseason program, went through individual drills last week but didn’t participate in the joint practices against the Saints. Before Friday’s game, he went through warmups in full uniform alongside his teammates.
He watched the game in full uniform, too, seemingly ready to enter a game in which he wasn’t going to play.
“I felt really good,” Watson said. “I came in, I talked to Coach LaFleur and I was like, ‘Should I take it off?’ He was like, ‘Nah, you look good. Just leave it on.’ ‘Yeah, I feel good, too.’ Obviously, it was my first time putting it on and getting to go out there. Even if he didn’t tell me to leave it on, I probably would’ve left it on, anyways. It felt really good. It’s better than street clothes.”
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