A visit to the hospital due to coughing up blood did not conclude Christian Watson’s evening on the football field.
The Green Bay Packers wide receiver made his way back to Lambeau Field during Thursday’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers after being transported by ambulance with a chest injury in the first half.
Watson departed the hospital around halftime and returned to the game with 4:01 left in the third quarter, with Green Bay leading 27-13. He continued to participate until the conclusion of the Packers’ 27-19 victory.
Following the game, Watson shared with Amazon’s Kaylee Hartung that he was not eager to go to the hospital, but the team’s medical personnel insisted he needed to go due to a “couple of signs” suggesting it was necessary. One of those signs included Watson spitting up blood.
“There was no internal bleeding, nothing that was causing concern,” Watson described regarding his clearance to return. “I was coughing up a little blood initially, so they just wanted to confirm there was nothing serious. … I got everything cleared and was able to get back out there.”
Watson emphasized that returning to the football field was his main focus.
“Being out on the football field is my top priority, that’s what matters most to me,” Watson stated.
Watson fractured a rib
Watson informed reporters after the game that he experienced difficulty breathing on the field after falling onto the ball following a catch. He confirmed that he was “coughing up blood” and a CT scan revealed a fractured rib.
The doctors approved his return to play despite the rib fracture, prompting him to hurry back to Lambeau Field to complete the game with additional padding around his injury.
“I informed them before we even departed that I wanted to head back out there, so I was determined to ensure I could get back if they permitted me,” Watson remarked.
The Packers communicated to reporters after halftime that Watson had passed medical evaluations at a nearby hospital and was on his way back to Lambeau Field. At that moment, he was officially categorized as questionable and jogged out of the ambulance upon his arrival at the stadium.
He then proceeded to jog onto the field, much to the excitement of the Lambeau Field crowd.
With the Packers maintaining a 27-13 lead and 4:01 remaining in the third quarter, Watson donned his helmet and reentered the game.
Watson’s injury incident
Watson incurred his injury early in the second quarter. He was able to walk off the field and into the ambulance using his own strength. The Packers announced that he had suffered a chest injury and was being taken to the hospital for precautionary measures.
The injury occurred due to a collision after Watson caught a 53-yard pass in the second quarter.
He remained on the field for several moments, then walked to the medical tent on the sideline. After a brief check in the tent, he walked off the field and was seen entering an ambulance shortly thereafter.
It seemed his night had come to an end amidst worries for his health. However, he returned to the field in the third quarter and finished the game, catching two more passes post-return, including a crucial late third-down conversion that helped secure the victory for Green Bay.
Watson is enjoying his best NFL season yet
Watson is amidst his breakout season in his fifth year in the NFL as one of the league’s most effective receivers. With eight receptions for 113 yards on Thursday night, he has reached 42 receptions for 708 yards and 6 touchdowns this season, marking a new career high just eight games into the season.
It looks like he will be able to boost that total without missing any additional time due to his injury.
During the play, Panthers cornerback Will Lee III collided with Watson and also sustained an injury, leaving the field on a cart and not returning due to a hamstring issue.
