Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was the fastest ball-carrier of Week 12 (through games on Sunday) thanks to the deep shot that hit to open Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field.
Per Next Gen Stats, Watson hit 21.53 miles per hour on his 53-yard catch on the first play of the Packers’ 29-22 win over the Detroit Lions.
Watson ran a deep post on a play Matt LaFleur wanted to change pre-game. The Packers kept it in, and Jordan Love connected with Watson — who got a free release and flew by the coverage — for the big play to kick off the holiday showdown. The completion set up an opening drive touchdown for the Packers, who scored on their first two possessions, led 20-6 in the first half and eventually closed out the win late.
Watson finished the upset win with five catches, 94 yards and a 16-yard touchdown. It was a breakout performance for the second-year receiver, and it could have been so much more.
Watson’s speed on the 53-yard catch is currently the 18th fastest play in the NFL this season and the fourth fastest play by a Packers player, trailing Jayden Reed (32-yard TD in Week 11), Aaron Jones (35-yard TD in Week 1) and Keisean Nixon (51-yard kickoff return in Week 9). The Packers (4) and Miami Dolphins (9) are the only teams with three or more plays in the top 20 this season, per Next Gen Stats.
Last year, Watson hit his top speed — 21.72 miles per hour — on a 46-yard touchdown run against the Chicago Bears in Week 13.
Can Watson’s elite speed help fuel another Packers run to end the 2023 season?
