This is the Christian Watson that the Packers have waited for

Less than a year after tearing an ACL, Christian Watson has emerged as the best version of himself to date and rewarded the Packers handsomely in the process.

Christian Watson drove up the field, taking seven steps before beginning his break. He had run the route countless times before. The threat of his speed would convince defenders to provide massive cushions, allowing him to cut into open space with ease.

But Watson didn’t make it out of his break this time. Instead, his right knee buckled. Watson instinctively grabbed the leg before even completing his fall. Finally at rest, he laid nearly motionless but in clear discomfort. Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson signaled for medical assistance immediately.

Watson had torn his ACL, beginning one of the most difficult periods of his football career, and perhaps his life in general. The wideout who could run like a gazelle suddenly couldn’t run at all, and wouldn’t again for months. Adding insult to literal injury, the tear came at the end of his healthiest season to date.

On Sunday, Watson took the same field against the same opponent. Less than a full year had passed since his knee gave out and he crumpled onto the ground, though one could hardly tell. The receiver who showed up this time had no apparent limitations, comfortably outpacing everyone else. The Bears made the mistake of leaving Watson in one-on-one coverage on multiple occasions. On two of them, he left his defenders in the dust.

The degree of Watson’s triumph exceeds that of a mere return to form. Rather, after navigating a devastating injury and brutal rehabilitation process, he has come out the other end a better player than ever before.