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Packers 1,653-Yard WR Returns to Practice for First Time Since January ACL Tear

The Green Bay Packers are close to getting back a key offensive weapon. Wide receiver Christian Watson practiced on Monday, his first session since tearing his ACL in the 2024 regular-season finale. From now, the Packers have 21 days to activate him from the reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list to the 53-man roster.

Watson suffered the injury on January 5 against the Chicago Bears, roughly nine months ago. The fact that he is healthy enough to return to practice is a positive step.

The former No. 34 overall pick (North Dakota State) signed a one-year, $13.25 million deal last month while rehabbing. In 2024, Watson caught 29 passes for 620 yards (a career high) and 2 TDs, averaging 21.4 yards per reception — explosive numbers.

Watson returns to a receivers room currently led by Romeo Doubs, rookie Matthew Golden, and Dontayvion Wicks. Jayden Reed — the Packers’ leading receiver in 2024 — is on injured reserve after fracturing his collarbone in Week 2. Tight end Tucker Kraft is presently Jordan Love’s top target with 16 receptions for 225 yards and 2 TDs through four games.

The Packers just came off their bye week and sit second in the NFC North at 2–1–1. They opened hot with wins over the Lions and Commanders, then let a fourth-quarter lead slip against the Browns in Week 3 and tied the Cowboys in Week 4. The Packers’ passing offense currently ranks 10th in the NFL (232.8 yards per game), and Watson’s return is expected to add even more firepower for the stretch ahead.

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Former Packers 1,400-Yard Back Released — Begs for One More Shot in Green Bay
Minneapolis, MN NFL rosters are always in flux when training camp approaches, but few moves make fans look twice like the latest headline out of Minneapolis. A name Green Bay knows by heart suddenly hit the open market—and almost instantly, calls for a reunion rippled through Titletown. The report slipped out quietly: a veteran running back was released after a grind-it-out year in a new uniform. A journey once defined by winter-tough finishes and a bond with the Lambeau faithful just took another sharp turn. Only a few seasons ago, he was the heartbeat of Matt LaFleur’s offense in the biggest moments. Aaron Jones—the spark plug of so many December drives—brought burst, balance, and a blue-collar relentlessness that felt unmistakably “Green Bay.” In 2019 and 2020, he stacked back-to-back 1,400+ scrimmage-yard seasons, piling up touchdowns and carving out a place in Packers lore. “Green Bay will always be home. I gave everything for this city, and I’d do it again. Give me the chance to finish what I started,” Jones wrote—his message racing across social media and stirring the hearts of Packers fans. Drafted by Green Bay in 2017, Jones grew into a cornerstone under LaFleur, then departed in free agency to chase a bigger role. But at his most recent stop, nagging injuries and a crowded rotation kept him from finding the same rhythm. Now, after eight uneven games up north, he’s waiting on a fresh start—or better yet, the perfect ending back where he became a star. The Packers’ depth chart has playmakers and a new lead back in place, but plenty of analysts and fans are asking the same question: could a reunion be the timely piece for those grueling, late-season yards? The answer likely comes down to roster needs, the right price, and a front office willing to bet on the heart of a player who knows Lambeau in his bones. For Jones, the dream is simple: one more chance to run with the Packers—and to finish the story on Lombardi Avenue the way he always imagined.