Green Bay Packers' 2025 hopes ride on Christian Watson's ACL recovery and Rashan Gary's comeback. Can they overcome their injuries to lead the Pack to glory?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The path to a successful 2025 season for the Green Bay Packers is paved with both hope and high stakes, and it all comes down to two pivotal players on opposite sides of the ball. While encouraging news surrounding Christian Watson's ACL recovery fuels dreams of an explosive passing attack, a cloud of pressure gathers over Rashan Gary, who faces a make-or-break year to prove he's still the dominant force the defense desperately needs.
While Rashan Gary posted career highs in run stops (33) and tackles (31) last season, his pass-rush win rate has dropped significantly since his November 2022 ACL injury, putting his performance under the microscope.
Optimism is brewing in Green Bay, centered on the rehab of wide receiver Christian Watson. Sidelined since a devastating ACL tear on January 5, 2025, his absence created a void in the offense that was impossible to fill last season. Recent reports of his significant progress are a beacon of hope for a receiving corps that lacked a true game-breaker. The coaching staff and GM Brian Gutekunst see a healthy Watson not just as an addition, but as the key to unlocking the entire offense's potential. His return could be the single most important factor for the Packers' success this year.
On the other side of the ball, the pressure is mounting on Rashan Gary. After a statistically quiet 2024 campaign, questions are swirling about whether he can return to the elite pass-rushing form he showed before his own ACL tear in 2022. While his run defense was stout, with career highs in run stops (33) and tackles (31), his PFF pass-rush grade and win rate saw a noticeable decline. For the Packers' defense to take the next step, they don't just need Gary on the field; they need the disruptive, quarterback-hunting version of him back in full force.
While the veterans work their way back, the Packers are still working to get their future stars under contract. Second-round pick Anthony Belton, the athletic offensive lineman from the 54th overall pick, remains unsigned as of June 21st. The hold-up is reportedly due to negotiations over guaranteed money, a common theme across the league for second-rounders this year. The Packers are eager to finalize his expected four-year, $8 million-plus deal and get the promising rookie into camp to compete for a role on the offensive line.
The stage for all these storylines is now officially set. The Packers announced the dates for their 2025 training camp, confirming the annual pilgrimage for fans to Lambeau Field. These public practices will offer the first glimpse of a recovering Watson, a motivated Gary, and (hopefully) a newly signed Belton. It's where roster battles will intensify and the team's identity for the upcoming season will begin to take shape.
With training camp dates now circled on the calendar, the countdown has officially begun. The coming weeks will be crucial, not just for contract negotiations with promising rookies like Belton, but for the physical and mental preparation of the team's cornerstones. All eyes will be on the practice field to see if Watson's return can ignite the offense and if Gary can reclaim his elite status. The answers to these questions will define the Packers' 2025 campaign.
