Did the Packers find their No. 1 receiver in Christian Watson? | Film review

GREEN BAY – Each week during the NFL season, PackersNews reporter Pete Dougherty and Eric Baranczyk break down game film from the Green Bay Packers game, looking for significant developments.

The following is an excerpt from this week’s story. For the full story, click here.

Christian Watson looks like a No. 1 receiver

It looks like the Packers have found their No. 1 receiver.

For his first three seasons in the NFL, Christian Watson was primarily used to take the top off defenses and occasionally catch a short throw in hopes he might turn it into a big play.

But all seven of his targets in the Packers’ 23-6 victory over the Minnesota Vikings were on possession-type out routes, and he caught all five that were catchable for 49 yards. That includes two that converted third downs.

Watson really has made a remarkable recovery from ACL surgery in January. His ability to make sharp cuts against the Vikings jumped out for a guy who isn’t even a year out from his injury.

In the first quarter, he ran a sharp out against cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. to convert a third-and-3. He ran a similar route on first down when the Packers were pinned back at their 2 later in the first quarter, this time against safety Theo Jackson, and picked up a few yards after the catch for a 9-yard gain.

He converted another third down by making a falling shoestring catch on another out route, and a tough toe-tapping catch on an 11-yard out along the sideline in the fourth quarter. In fact, Watson was open on his two incomplete targets, but Jordan Love missed the throw on both.

It helped that the Vikings sometimes play soft coverage on their many blitz calls so they don’t get beat deep. But the bigger story is that Watson has improved despite spending all offseason rehabbing his knee. He’s been back for five games now and doesn’t appear to be on any snap limitations at this point. He is the Packers’ best receiver.

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Did the Packers find their No. 1 receiver in Christian Watson?