Christian Watson still confident he'll make the next big play

A short memory is a big deal for a young player in the NFL. One bad play can’t shatter a player’s confidence.

It appears Green Bay Packers rookie Christian Watson has the type of short memory and enduring confidence necessary to get past the play

[{"selector":"#anim-54a90419-01ff-4783-8243-91b1b800bcbf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.78369129238685%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcbb70ae-eddb-4971-a800-faaed48d8f2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ab937fd-bb11-467b-aca9-899be688055d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -258.00084%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

He missed on his first NFL snap from scrimmage on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

[{"selector":"#anim-856325b8-c3cf-45f0-a3b6-2fcb55001d33 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(50.60624988963897%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-702a29f8-bfee-427d-96d9-2de8ec2d2877","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62609367-eee3-48fd-b99f-3356c7d098f6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 161.07431%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

After roasting veteran corner Patrick Peterson with a double move, Watson got a few yards beyond the nearest defender

[{"selector":"#anim-0eb27502-73eb-47d7-a7ab-729a6ce35764 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(5.169053810180976%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5de22a96-c797-42d8-b882-4822094a2978","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.14551%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ebdf871-162e-4924-9221-9e34cb0fe1ac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b56aaf6c-3c7c-4a31-911c-1874d13d1bd4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown had he caught Aaron Rodgers’ perfectly-thrown deep ball on the Packers’ first play Sunday.

[{"selector":"#anim-f6999af3-4af5-4b8b-b2b6-3175c8eeb06e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.78369129238685%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0e7640c-aedc-4aca-9e40-424991d04a7b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2c0113eb-9db1-4c1b-94ae-361b169ca716","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.62229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The rookie took responsibility for the drop and made it clear he’s confident he’ll get the next one

[{"selector":"#anim-fcbfc8b9-1518-47c3-95aa-681c9f8f452b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(50.60624988963897%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a39f27a1-5fdd-4e5b-9fce-6715468a8570","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -357.33807%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -100.483465284%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -34.161519492000004%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.828436713%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.574473892%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}]

“I just know it’s a play that I’m going to make 99 times out of 100,” Watson said.

[{"selector":"#anim-eda2e289-f6d0-47f9-b5c5-b8548afccd39 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(5.169053810180976%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29f2453e-adc5-47b6-bb58-b05216b022db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.40867%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c46e8b8-9923-46ea-8e39-b9c55d15e8c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbd280c8-8da4-4142-b973-994dedb89805","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Packers are banking on it. Watson, standing 6-4 with elite speed, and the Matt LaFleur offense requires a field-stretcher

[{"selector":"#anim-ffda40cb-790a-40a8-87be-b9fad1df6988 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-39.78369129238685%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff6fc6d1-5d94-4c4c-8a58-d78f3ce72118","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Rodgers said he lobbied for the deep shot on the first play and complimented Watson for running a “great route” against Peterson

[{"selector":"#anim-f475f2dc-fc06-43e2-a06a-9ca16e4e4be5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(50.60624988963897%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1e26950-0991-4657-8fd4-a8b8b5e8bee9","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -257.00855%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -72.27080426%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -24.570017380000003%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -9.226606945%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -4.00933338%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":1600,"fill":"both"}]

Despite the early drop, Watson still ended up playing the second-most snaps among Packers receivers in the opener.

[{"selector":"#anim-27ceca70-1b6e-4b87-a8d1-088253ea90d6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(5.169053810180976%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b69f9119-3d0c-47c3-9ab2-4e81a637a019","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2d19b3f-fb36-4e21-9071-4f0f90b427da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.90234%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]