Packers receiver returns to game with broken rib after hospital visit

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson spent nearly an hour in a hospital after sustaining a chest injury during Thursday night's game against the Carolina Panthers. He returned to the field with a broken rib and finished with eight receptions for 113 yards as Green Bay won 27-19.

The injury occurred in the second quarter when Watson completed a 53-yard catch. Carolina cornerback Will Lee also suffered a hamstring injury while making a diving stop on the play and did not return to the game. Watson said he could not breathe on the field and noticed he was spitting blood at the sideline. Team medical staff sent him for a CT scan, which revealed no internal bleeding but confirmed a broken rib.

Watson estimated his hospital stay lasted between 45 minutes and an hour. He applied padding to the injury and rejoined the team in the third quarter. The wide receiver credited the clean scan with removing any doubt about his availability. He noted that after missing time to previous injuries, including a torn ACL, he wanted to maximize his time on the field.

"I couldn't breathe on the field," Watson said. "I got the wind knocked out of me. I got back to the sideline and I was kind of spitting up some blood or something like that. So the doctor said I had to go get a CT (scan)."

Teammates expressed surprise at his return. Safety Javon Bullard called the sequence of events crazy. Safety Xavier McKinney said the move showed Watson's toughness and love for the team. Watson compared the experience to professional wrestling, noting the camera attention when he exited the ambulance.

Watson had six catches for 100 yards before the injury, extending a season in which he holds career highs with 42 catches for 708 yards. His return helped stop a Carolina comeback. With the Packers leading 27-10, the Panthers cut the deficit to 27-19. Watson caught a 7-yard pass on a third-and-2 play with about two and a half minutes remaining to secure the win.

Watson finished the game with a career-high performance in the season's context, though the 113 yards were slightly below his previous single-game high mentioned in his season totals. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and high-fives from teammates upon entering the field.