Christian Watson credits Aaron Rodgers for his professional, personal development

Green Bay Packers rookie Christian Watson spoke on playing with Aaron Rodgers this season, and expressed how grateful he was to learn from him.

The Green Bay Packers‘ season has reached its end, as they just missed out on a playoff berth in the final game of the 2022 season. After losing to the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football, the talk about quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ status with the team once again began. He has spoken openly about retirement, and there’s the possibility the team moves on from him.

When speaking with the media this week, rookie wide receiver Christian Watson was asked what it was like to play with Rodgers this season. Watson credited him for pushing him to become “a better player, a better man.”

“I’m extremely thankful to be able to have learned from him, grown with him,” said Watson. “I think that he pushed me to become a better player, a better man, each and every day. I’m just thankful for the opportunity to, if it is the last opportunity, I’m just thankful I got to learn and play with such an extraordinary athlete.”

Christian Watson speaks on playing with Aaron Rodgers

The Packers dealt with uncertainty when it came to the wide receiver depth chart after they traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling left for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. The Packers traded up in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft to select Watson out of North Dakota State.

Watson did get off to a slow start to the season, notably dropping a walk-in touchdown in the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings. But Watson broke out in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he scored his first career touchdown, plus two additional touchdowns in Green Bay’s 31-28 overtime win. From Week 10 until Week 13, Watson scored seven touchdowns.

The rookie ended the season on a high note, as he caught five-of-six targets from Rodgers for 104 yards.

On the season, Watson recorded 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven touchdowns on 66 targets. Watson also ran for 80 yards ad two touchdowns on seven carries.

Whatever the future holds for Rodgers in Green Bay, Watson is grateful for learning from the former four-time NFL MVP.