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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson left in the first half of "Thursday Night Football" in an ambulance with an apparent chest injury, then made an unexpected and surprising return in the third quarter.
After returning from the hospital, he jogged back onto the field and received a loud ovation from fans as he rejoined his teammates on the sideline. He returned to the game and helped the Packers win 27-19 over the Carolina Panthers.
His seemingly miraculous return from the hospital to play in an NFL game wowed many people, including his teammates.
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"Man, that was crazy. It was a lot of people cheering. Stuff was going on. I didn't know what was happening. Then I see Christian running out, and he's just resurrected. It was great to see him," quarterback Jordan Love said of his teammate.
More news: Packers WR Christian Watson Exits Panthers Game With Concerning Injury
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"Obviously, you don't know what happened when he leaves with an injury and things like that, you're hoping for the best. But to see him come back out and be able to finish the game was amazing," the Packers quarterback said.
Love said he was looking for ways to get the ball to Watson early because the receiver was making big plays for Green Bay. Watson finished with eight receptions for 113 yards, including the 53-yard reception on which he initially suffered the injury after an awkward landing.
On that same play, the Panthers lost cornerback Will Lee, who was carted off the field with a hamstring injury. Watson walked off the field on his own before heading back to the locker room and then getting into the back of an ambulance.
After the game, Prime Video's Kaylee Hartung spoke to Watson about his injury situation and making a surprising return from the hospital to play again.
"It was tough honestly. I never wanted to go. I was hoping that they would let me off, I said I was feeling better once I caught my breath. ... It is what it is. I was just praying that I was good enough to come back out here," Watson said.
It was initially reported that Watson's hospital trip was for precautionary reasons. He indicated they didn't find any "internal bleeding" or "anything to raise suspicion" after he was "spitting a little blood at first."
Watson said he was keeping track of the game during the hour he was away at the hospital, indicating a doctor had his phone out so he could see the "play-by-play." He indicated he was hyped after seeing that several teammates scored touchdowns while he was away.
The star receiver then made his surprising return to the game to further assist his teammates in the win, with the Packers improving to 5-3 on the season. It was an incredible scene, as Watson also told reporters later that he had a "broken rib" and still played in the game, showing some major grit.
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