Packers make inevitable roster decision with key offensive player just before training camp officially gets underway

The Green Bay Packers have placed wide receiver Christian Watson on the active/physically unable to perform list. This is not a surprise by any means, since the fourth-year player is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in January, in the Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears.

Even if unsurprising, it's some level of good news. Because it's the active/PUP, Watson can be activated at any point before the beginning of the regular season. If he is moved to the reserve/PUP on cutdown day, the wide receiver will have to miss at least four games.

Had Watson been placed on the reserve/PUP list now, he would be ruled out for the entire 2025 season—and his contract would toll to 2026. The decision to place him on the active/PUP confirms that Watson is expected to return to action at some point during the 2025 regular season.

Christian Watson got injured in January. ACL tears usually take around 10 months for the player to get back in the NFL, which would put the wide receiver in line to return by early November. Watson may be ahead of the curve, but at this point it's still hard to precise his return date.

"It is exciting to see how far along he is, he's been doing a great job, he attacks it the right way," head coach Matt LaFleur said during the offseason program. "Our trainers have done an outstanding job with him. I think he's in the best spot possible considering the circumstance."

Watson is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The receiver is slated to make $1.965 million, since he did not reach the Proven Performance Escalator.

On the active/PUP list, Christian Watson still counts towards the 90-man roster. And he has to start training camp on it in order to be placed on the reserve/PUP to start the regular season—by that point, he won't count towards the 53-man roster.