Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver

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So get started and download the free Odyssey app today. Christian, first off, appreciate you doing this. Congratulations on the performance on Sunday. How you been? Thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate it. I've been great. I've been great. Obviously, you know, coming off a win, doing a lot better.

So, you know, I have no complaint. How do you look back at that performance? Because that was your really welcome to the NFL moment where you really were able to pop off on Sunday. I mean, obviously, I definitely, you know, yesterday, I mean, it was obviously super exciting. Super grateful for the opportunities I got. But obviously, you know, got to move on from that.

Look ahead and just be excited for some more opportunities going forward. What made that match up against the Cowboys for you individually such an advantageous situation? Were you able to have a big game like that? Oh, I mean, I think for me, just personally, that that game, I mean, it really just came down to just winning a one on one match up. So, I mean, they played a lot of man and a lot of different situations where it just happened to, you know, work out for obviously, you know, the plays and the schemes that we were calling.

They obviously just utilizing, you know, my guy giving abilities and my talent and just, you know, winning those one on one matchups. So you've been a second round pick and you almost won in the first round out of North Dakota State. I know you've been dealing with some injuries. You know, there's a transition going from college to the NFL. Did you get a sense leading up to this game that, hey, a big day was just bound to happen for you? I mean, I definitely just been waiting for my moment, waiting for the, you know, the opportunity.

Obviously, you know, having dealt with the injuries, it's been a little delayed. But I mean, obviously, just, you know, having that, you know, confidence and, you know, knowing the potential that I had and the ability that I had, you know, I knew at some point that, you know, it was only a matter of time. What have you learned about yourself so far in your first year in the NFL, Christian Watson? I mean, so far, I mean, I've really just, you know, learned that, you know, it's a different ball game.

You know, obviously, you know, I anticipate that, you know, going into it. But I mean, there's a lot that goes into, you know, being successful in the National Football League. Obviously, there's, you know, a lot of talented players and there's a lot going on and, you know, everything happens a lot faster. So, I mean, I really just learned, you know, kind of, you know, the amount of work, the amount of, you know, preparation, the grindy aspect of, you know, being successful in the National Football League, you know, it takes a lot. Nav, in 10 weeks under your belt, do you feel like things are starting to slow down for you getting comfortable?

You know, I definitely feel like things have slowed down quite a bit. Obviously, you know, just having a really good understanding of the offense, you know, has played a huge role in that. Obviously, you know, coming in and learning a brand new offense is always tough, you know, learning the playbook and whatnot.

Just, you know, obviously having, you know, gotten a decent amount of reps and, you know, that physical side of the game has been huge for me in terms of just speeding things up for me. How would you describe yourself as a wide receiver? People have seen you play this year. They saw what you did on Sunday in a big spot. We know you're a winner going back to North Dakota State, but if someone hasn't really watched a lot of you, how would you describe yourself as a wide receiver, Christian Watson?

I mean, I would just describe myself as a versatile playmaker, you know, someone who we obviously, you know, when the ball is in his hands, you know, I'm going to make a play, you know, regardless, and I'm going to utilize, you know, my speed and my size to create mismatches and to win. Take me to that first touchdown because clearly you were fired up. I saw the backflip in the end zone.

That was pretty nice. Oh, yeah. No, I mean, that was a crazy one. I mean, obviously, you know, I kind of got a pre-snap read. I had obviously, you know, seeing their safety rotation and seeing that it was, you know, that one high, the man coverage look that they had obviously, you know, been showing a lot on film. So, you know, as soon as I got to the line, I knew it was going to be a one-on-one matchup and, you know, I just had a goal ball.

So, you know, obviously, this best release, I just got to win. So, you know, obviously, I just, you know, obviously utilized the speed on that play, got by him and just stacked him and, you know, just made, obviously made sure that I caught the ball and, you know, got in the end zone. Did you know that if you got in the end zone, you were going to do a backflip or that was just in the moment? I mean, I knew at some point I was going to break it out. I had done it in practice a few weeks prior and, you know, everyone was, you know, waiting on the moment for me to, you know, do it in the game and, you know, have the opportunity to do that in the game.

So, you know, I knew everyone was going to be hyped up about it. So, it was a last-minute decision for me and so, like, I didn't know, you know, next touchdown I'm going to hit a backflip, but I was definitely, I had it in the bag ready to break out at any moment. Christian Watson here with us for the Green Bay Packers. Office monster game against the Cowboys.

Four catches for 107 yards and three touchdowns. You have two good running backs in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Running the ball was an emphasis against Dallas. Do you feel like this is going to be a run first team moving forward or does it really, you don't know what to expect each and every week with the Packers? Oh, I mean, for us, I mean, we really just taking it one week at a time. Obviously, you know, we're going to make the most of, you know, what we got and what we're giving each and every week. And obviously, you know, the game plan will, you know, change from week to week. But I mean, obviously, you know, we have a lot of playmakers in our offense and obviously, you know, we got to get our playmakers the ball and those, you know, two running backs being, you know, two of the bigger playmakers in the offense. So, I mean, going forward, you know, I just see us doing whatever it takes to go one and know that we're going to make the most of what we got and what we're going to want to know that week. We're going to, you know, do that and try to get it done. Yeah, when you're down in the fourth quarter, that's not easy to come back against that Dallas team who's been playing a lot of really good football.

How did you guys do it? What was the mentality like on your sideline in the fourth? I mean, the mentality, we just believed in ourselves.

You know, we believe that, you know, regardless of the situation, we were going to keep on fighting and keep on going and, you know, just keep on chipping at them and coming back. I mean, I don't think anybody ever wavered on the sideline. The energy was there all game long from everybody on the sideline. So, I mean, we were locked in and we were prepared to win that game. You guys needed the win in the worst way after losing five straight.

If you would have lost that game, you'd have been three and seven. What was the scene like in the locker room to get you guys to four and six after that crazy game on Sunday? It was just pure joy, pure excitement, you know, really positive energy. You know, I could feel the love and the energy in that locker room afterwards.

I mean, I definitely, obviously, you know, it was definitely one that we needed and, you know, one that was hard fought. So, you know, we were all really excited. What can this team be moving forward?

Because there's a lot of people that are still doubting you guys at four and six. I mean, we're going to continue to just be, you know, as good as we can be. You know, I think that, you know, we have the potential to be really, really good. And, you know, I think that we're going to continue to make strides to, you know, obviously show that each and every game. I think that, you know, everything that we want is still in front of us in our eyes.

You know, we're just obviously, you know, taking it week by week and, you know, we're just going to try to stay on that incline and stay on that rise and then just keep on chopping. I know, Christian Watson, there was so much going into this game being made about Mike McCarthy's return to Lambeau Field going up against his old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. It seemed like just watching that game on television, it meant a little bit extra more for both Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy. Did you sense that game mean a little bit something extra for your quarterback in Aaron Rodgers being around him all week? I mean, I don't, I mean, I obviously wasn't around for that. Yeah.

So, you know, I don't know that exact connection. But, I mean, I think it was, I think it meant a little bit extra to everyone, honestly, just, you know, being in the situation that we were in and just, you know, knowing what was at stake going forward. So, you know, I felt, you know, that little boost of energy from everybody.

And I think that we're going to see a lot more of that, you know, throughout the season, obviously, treating every single week like it's the last week. Take me through your draft day. You know, when you get drafted in the second round by the Green Bay Packers, what do you remember about that phone call when you got drafted by the Packers? Yeah, no, I mean, it was crazy. Obviously, you know, it had been a dream of mine since I was a little kid to, you know, play at the highest level possible.

You know, I was back home with, you know, my family and my loved ones, my fiancé. And, I mean, I couldn't have been more grateful to have that moment with them. And, I mean, shoot, it was crazy. I mean, it was a dream come true for real.

Is it surreal? Like, when did it hit you that Aaron Rodgers was going to be your quarterback? I mean, I think it hit me as soon as I got the first text from him. And, I mean, it was crazy just to obviously, you know, get a text from, you know, a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback and just to know that, you know, that's going to be my quarterback going forward. I mean, it was crazy. But, I mean, I think it really, really sunk in when he came out for the mandatory minicamp.

And, obviously, you know, getting live reps with him, just, you know, his knowledge of the game and just the level that he plays at and practices at, it was crazy. Where's your chemistry at with him as that continues to be a work in progress as this being your first year with the Packers? You know, I think it's really good. You know, I think that obviously, you know, I'm continuing to build that trust with him, build that connection with him.

You know, I know that he has faith in me, obviously, you know, being able to, you know, come back to me, you know, whether, you know, things were going good or going bad. And, I mean, I think it's just going to continue to rise and obviously flourish as the season continues to progress. Jeremy Fowler from ESPN wrote that some of the young wide receivers have been painted as scapegoats for the Packers problems despite Aaron Rodgers' absence during OTAs, which isn't sitting well with some there. What do you have to say on that?

And was there at all a little bit of a rocky relationship at the beginning with some of the younger receivers, you being one of them and Aaron Rodgers? No, I mean, I don't, you know, I don't really pay attention. I don't really think any of us rookies, you know, pay attention to, you know, what's going on in the media or, you know, people's opinions on anything or, you know, misunderstandings of what is said. I mean, I think that, you know, we're, you know, we're in there, we're in the facilities, we're practicing, we're around 12, you know, for hours, the majority of the day. So, I mean, we already have kind of a sense and a feeling of, you know, what he's feeling and, you know, we never got any, you know, bad energy or bad vibes from him.

So, you know, nothing negative to say about that. This team getting a win, it was much needed. What is the vibe around this team right now at four and six? I mean, we're just, we're just head down, continue to work, continue to prepare. I mean, we're just, like I said before, I mean, we're just taking it week by week. You know, we know, we know that each game far forward just means, it means a heck of a lot to us and, you know, we just got to continue to just strive to go one and O each and every week.

Well, it's a quick turnaround because you guys do play on Thursday night back at Lambeau Field up against Tennessee. What jumps out to you when you go through the early scouting report on this Tennessee defense? Oh, I mean, obviously they have a, they have a really sound defense. You know, they play a lot of, a lot of man coverage. So, I mean, there'll be a lot more opportunities obviously for those, for those one-on-one matchups and just winning. But I mean, obviously, you know, they have a really sound defense. They have a really, some really, some really, a really good pass, pass rush up front.

So, I mean, it's really just gonna, it's gonna be another grindy one. We're just gonna have to, you know, continue to be at our best and, you know, obviously, you know, put that foot in the door and keep on working. Last thing I'll ask you, Christian Watson, I really do enjoy the conversation so far today. I know we talked about your three touchdowns, but in a game like that against the Cowboys, you're at Lambeau Field, you get to do a Lambeau leap, you have all those fans chanting your name and you're number one. Just what were you feeling during that entire game when that's a game you guys had to have and you had your best performance of the season? I mean, it was euphoric for sure. I mean, it definitely felt like there was, you know, a weight lifted off my shoulders. Obviously, you know, it was a really big game for, you know, confidence in myself and just, you know, having that confidence, you know, with everybody on the squad. But I mean, obviously, it was a hard-fought win for all of us, you know, including myself. So, I mean, it was great. Well, hey, keep up the good work. It was a heck of a performance on Sunday. Really do appreciate you carving out some time for us. Good luck against Tennessee. Thanks so much.

Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. Throughout the 60s and 70s, cops hunted down key figures of the Dixie Mafia, including its enigmatic ringleader, Kirksey Nix. I'm interested in making money.

I'm not interested in hurting people. 15 years into Kirksey's life sentence, the Dixie Mafia was practically folklore, but that would soon change. I'm Jed Lipinski. This is Gone South, a documentary podcast from C-13 Originals, a Cadence 13 studio. Season 2, The Dixie Mafia, available now on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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