WWE-Like Scenes in NFL as Christian Watson Pops Out of Ambulance to Take the Field Back Against Panthers

Christian Watson took a vicious knock while catching deep pass from Jordan Love and left the game to get checked out at a nearby hospital.

WWE-Like Scenes in NFL as Christian Watson Pops Out of Ambulance to Take the Field Back Against Panthers

Christian Watson (Image via IMAGO/X)

Christian Watson left the Week 8 Thursday Night fixture against the Carolina Panthers before halftime. However, he still recorded more receiving yards than any other receiver.

Watson signing a four-year extension during the offseason raised eyebrows across the league. Many viewed it as a risk, pointing to Watson’s injury history. The 27 year old has never played a full season.

However, Watson has proven the doubters wrong. He led the Packers prior to TNF kickoff in receiving yards and touchdowns. The Packers needed him to step up as they looked to get back to winning ways after Sunday’s defeat in Detroit.

Watson caught a couple of big-time catches in the first half. However, tragedy struck six minutes into the second quarter. Quarterback Jordan Love threw a deep pass in double coverage. Watson caught it but stayed down.

Replays showed Watson hit the Lambeau turf hard. The ball prevented his chest from direct impact, but it also seemed to cause the injury. He left on his two feet.

Reporters filmed him hopping into an ambulance. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov, Watson was taken to a nearby hospital.

Meanwhile, the Packers took a two-score lead. Running back Josh Jacobs scored a rushing and a receiving touchdown. Matthew Golden dropped a couple of passes before scoring a receiving touchdown.

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Christian Watson returned later on

In late fourth quarter, the Packers announced that Watson would rejoin the game. Right on cue, the same ambulance entered Lambeau with Watson.

WWE-Like Scenes in NFL as Christian Watson Pops Out of Ambulance to Take the Field Back Against Panthers
#9 Christian Watson (Image via Sports Illustrated)

Moments later, reporters captured Watson coming out of the vehicle. As if nothing had happened, the former North Dakota State star ran his way through the tunnel with a camera trailing him the entire way. Fans broke into a loud cheer as Watson retook the field.

Carolina reduced the lead to just eight after quarterback Bryce Young connected with Jalen Coker. The wide receiver broke a couple of tackles before scoring, but he failed on the two-point try.

Watson added a couple more catches to his tally and the Packers hung on to win 27-19. Watson finished with 8 catches and 113 yards—more than any receiver on the night. Golden had 7 catches for 79 yards and one touchdown. Panthers Tetairoa McMillan caught 6 for 58 yards.

Watson used a WWE analogy to describe his return.“I felt like I was watching a WWE Smackdown vs. Raw or something out there,” Christian Watson said via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

Watson said that he coughed up blood at the hospital. Tests further revealed that he had broken ribs.

Watson is justifying his $110.5 million extension in the best way possible. In eight games, he has racked up 42 receptions, 708 yards, and 6 touchdowns. However, he hasn’t scored since the Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Packers drafted Watson with the 34th overall pick in 2022. Since his debut, he has missed 20 games due to various injuries—concussion, hamstring, knee, ACL tear, and rib sprain.

Quarterback Jordan Love completed 30 of 41 passes for 288 yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Josh Jacobs caught a touchdown pass and rushed for another. Meanwhile, tight end Tucker Kraft caught a TD pass.

Despite the win, the 5-2 Packers are rooted at the bottom of the NFC North. The 6-0 Minnesota Vikings lead the division, followed by the 5-2 Chicago Bears and the 4-2 Detroit Lions.

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