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Christian Watson and Tetairoa McMillan Match in Big Plays, but Only One Gets 2 Healthy Corners
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- Christian Watson and Tetairoa McMillan Match in Big Plays, but Only One Gets 2 Healthy Corners
Christian Watson and Tetairoa McMillan have been almost identical this season in one category that matters Thursday night. The Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers receivers each have 15 catches of 15 or more yards, tied for fifth in the NFL, according to the Panthers .
Only one of them draws a short-handed secondary. Carolina arrives at Lambeau Field with only two healthy cornerbacks , while McMillan has to beat a Green Bay secondary that leads the NFL in interceptions.
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Christian Watson gets Carolina's thinnest spot
Detroit Lions safety Chuck Clark (36) tackles Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.
Watson leads the Packers with 34 catches for 595 yards and six touchdowns, a 17.5-yard average that ranks him sixth in the league in receiving yards. He and Matthew Golden became the first pair of teammates since 2020 with 500 yards and three touchdowns apiece through six games.
Golden is questionable with shoulder and foot injuries, which could push even more of the deep work to Watson. He'll see Will Lee III and Chau Smith-Wade, because Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson are on injured reserve and Akayleb Evans was ruled out Wednesday . Lee graded 70.4 against Tampa Bay, according to PFF, but Evans allowed a 143.1 passer rating in the same game, and the Panthers have little depth behind the two starters. Safety Nick Scott knows what that means against Green Bay. "Everybody on that field is explosive and can make plays," he said this week .
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Watson's issue has been finishing. A 26-yard touchdown went in and out of his hands against Dallas, and Love's receivers have dropped a league-high 20 passes. He graded 65.1 as a receiver in Detroit, according to PFF.
Tetairoa McMillan has to beat Brandon Cisse and Keisean Nixon
Sep 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) runs after making a catch as Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. (24) defends during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
McMillan has carried Carolina's passing game with 36 catches for 511 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 85.2 receiving yards per game. His 68.9 receiving grade was the best among Carolina's wide receivers in the blowout loss to Tampa Bay, according to PFF.
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Green Bay's corners give him a mixed matchup. Keisean Nixon graded 71.0 and allowed two catches for 35 yards on five targets against the Lions, according to PFF. Brandon Cisse was targeted eight times, gave up six catches and allowed a 99.5 passer rating. McMillan will look for Cisse, but Xavier McKinney and a defense with a league-high nine interceptions are waiting over the top, and Green Bay allows a 45.1 passer rating on downfield throws, second-lowest in the NFL.
Both receivers will get their deep shots. Watson draws a short-handed Carolina secondary , while McMillan has to win against a Packers group built to take the ball away. If Watson holds on to the ones he's dropped this season, he should come away with the bigger night.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
