Packers WR Watson returns to game after trip to hospital for chest injury

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  Rob DemovskyOct 29, 2026, 10:01 PM ET

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  Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers receiver Christian Watson was taken to a local hospital during the first half of Thursday night's game against the Carolina Panthers because of a chest injury.

Watson was injured at the end of a 53-yard, deep-ball reception during which he appeared to land awkwardly.

He walked off the field under his own power and shortly thereafter walked to the locker room without assistance. He even climbed into the back of an ambulance by himself and still had his pads on. The team said he was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Something similar happened to Watson last season at Denver on Dec. 15, when he went to the hospital to check for broken ribs. Tests were negative, and Watson played in the next game.

Before he left the game Thursday, Watson had six catches for 100 yards. The 53-yarder was his third reception of 50 or more yards this season, most in the NFL. Since 2022, Watson has 11 catches of 50-plus yards, which is second in the league behind only Nico Collins (12). It also was Watson's 13th reception of 20 or more yards this season, second in the NFL behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba (14).

In addition, tight end Josh Whyle was ruled out of Thursday night's game after sustaining a concussion.