The first play of the 2022 season was nearly a memorable one for Green Bay Packers rookie receiver Christian Watson.
Instead, it will be remembered as a gigantic missed opportunity for the rookie in his NFL debut.
The second-round pick got behind the coverage of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson and was wide-open for what would have been a 75-yard touchdown, but the rookie dropped Aaron Rodgers’ downfield throw.
The score would have tied the game. The Packers punted four plays later.
Watson put a deceptive double move on Peterson – faking inside before getting upfield – and then used his incredible straight-line speed to create the scoring opportunity, but his hands failed him. Drops were an issue for Watson on deep shots during his collegiate career at North Dakota State. Nerves might have been the primary issue on the rookie’s first NFL snap.
Rodgers was 0-for-3 passing on the open drive, with incompletions targeting Watson, Robert Tonyan and rookie Romeo Doubs.
Here’s the drop:
Christian Watson’s first target of his career and only one for the rest of this season. pic.twitter.com/ptOJjxnF66
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) September 11, 2022
The Packers trail 7-0 in the first half.