Carlos

Watkins

When Phillips was asked about his injury he said, “I don’t know. That’s above my pay grade. You have to ask the people making the decisions.” It certainly seems like this was a calculated decision by the Cowboys to keep Phillips on the team while getting another DT on the field on Sundays. We’ll have to see what kind of role Phillips returns to in four weeks. Carlos Watkins was signed to the active roster to take Phillips’ place.

Watkins signed with the Cardinals on a one-year deal this offseason. He was listed as a starter in one of two games and notched his first sack since 2021 with Arizona. The bicep injury will sideline Watkins for at least four games, though he could be out for much longer than that.

A former starter, 29-year-old Watkins became more of a role player in 2022. He should at least be able to find snaps for the rebuilding Cardinals.

Watkins actually started 14 games last season, but he provided 437 ineffective snaps. He also started 11 games for the 2020 Texans. Heading into his age-29 campaign, Watkins’ phone isn’t going to be ringing off the hook.

The veteran started a career-high 14 games last season as a run-stuffer, a role he filled fairly well. Watkins doesn’t provide much as a pass rusher but should continue to be a decent rotational lineman as long as he keeps his current skill and form.

Watkins started 11 games with the Texans last year, totaling 27 tackles and two sacks with four tackles for loss. He’ll join Dallas’ defensive line as a rotational player.

A fourth-round pick in 2017, Watkins has played 371 snaps on defense so far throughout his career. Houston has a hole on the defensive line after losing Christian Covington to free agency, and they expect Watkins to step into the role. “My expectations for Carlos are sky-high,” Texans DL coach Anthony Weaver said. “I know to this point, he probably hasn’t exceeded the expectations but a lot of that has been purely because of opportunity.” Watkins will compete with Angelo Blackson and fifth-rounder Charles Omenihu for snaps along Houston’s defensive line.

Watkins (6’3/309) made 30 starts on the Tigers’ defensive line, tallying 26 career tackles for loss and 14 sacks. He earned first-team All-ACC as both a junior and senior, and second-team All-America in 2016. A three-technique power rusher who manhandled heralded Ohio State C Pat Elflein when they met last year, Watkins’ game tape reveals an inconsistent motor, and his pre-draft athletic numbers largely underwhelmed. Still, Watkins has the body type, toughness, and physicality of a high-floor prospect who should contribute in a rotation, even if he never becomes a top-shelf, every-down NFL lineman.