Packers’ Watson believes he still has time to step up his production during frustrating season

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson remains confident he can turn his disappointing season around.

After all, he has done it before.

“At some point, it’s going to click,” Watson said. “It’s tough mentally just knowing it hasn’t happened yet, but at the end of the day, I can’t control or change anything that’s happened in the past. I’m just focused on this next one.”

Watson dealt with injuries and inconsistency as a rookie last year before breaking out in mid-November, when he started a four-game stretch in which he scored eight touchdowns. That raised hopes the 2022 second-round pick from North Dakota State could emerge as a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

Although the 24-year-old Watson still has plenty of time to live up to that billing, this season, thus far, has represented a major step backward.

After missing Green Bay’s first three games with a hamstring injury, Watson had a 1-yard touchdown catch against Detroit in his first appearance of the season. The 6-foot-4 wideout hasn’t scored since.

Watson has caught just 14 passes for 236 yards. Nearly one-third of those yards came on one play — a 77-yard gain in a 17-13 loss at Las Vegas on Oct. 9.

“I think he just needs to go out there and play fast, play decisive and play confident because he’s a guy that has all the ability,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.

“He’s a big guy that can run, and we need him to show that every opportunity on tape. If guys are going to get up in your face and want to bump you, you’ve got to be in attack mode and you’ve got to come off the line of scrimmage with a great stance and start and try to work people’s edges and get on top of them that way.”

In Green Bay’s past four games, Watson has been targeted 22…