Jaylen

Watson

After practicing in full this week, Watson is good to go for Kansas City’s Divisional Round matchup with the Texans. Watson played nearly every snap of the Chiefs’ first five games before going down with the ankle injury. He had six pass breakups and 21 total tackles through six appearances. Watson’s return will bolster an already-strong Kansas City defense.

Watson injured his ankle in Week 7’s win over the 49ers, and the Chiefs struggled to find decent cornerback play next to Trent McDuffie in his stead. Watson had a 74.2 PFF coverage grade in 221 coverage snaps this season. Andy Reid said he was “in good shape” and said “he has a chance of playing” earlier today. The full practice would certainly seem to suggest he has a good chance of being active on Saturday.

According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, Watson will practice on Friday with the team and may return in time for the start of the Chiefs’ postseason. The third-year corner suffered a broken fibula in late October and was believed to be lost for the season. Now on the mend, the Chiefs will get a major boost to their secondary if Watson is able to return. Before suffering his injury, Watson had allowed just 15 receptions for 192 scoreless yards on 28 targets in six games while earning a PFF coverage grade of 74.2. The Chiefs already have a bye during the Wild Card round of the playoffs, meaning Watson wouldn’t return until the weekend of January 18th, giving him more than two weeks to practice and continue healing.

Fowler said Watson, who suffered the injury in Week 7, “will undergo surgery in the coming days for a broken fibula-tibia (ankle) after tests confirmed the injury.” Fowler added there is an “outside chance he’s back for a late playoff push, source adds, but his season very well could be over.” Losing Warren would be a setback for a Kansas City secondary giving up the ninth lowest drop back EPA in 2024.

Watson will undergo further imaging to determine if this is a season-ending injury. The 26-year-old was a seventh-round pick in 2022, and he’s developed into one of the better young defenders on the Kansas City defense. Even if the injury doesn’t end his 2024 campaign, it’s very unlikely Watson will play anytime soon.

In addition to Thuney, the Chiefs also placed EDGE Charles Omenihu, DT Derrick Nnadi, and DB Jaylen Watson on the PUP list. Thuney suffered what was called a “significant pectoral injury” by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport during last year’s AFC Championship Game against the Ravens and was unable to suit up for the Super Bowl as a result. In addition to Thuney, Omenihu suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl and is a likely candidate to open the year on the reserve/PUP list. All players are eligible to return to the roster upon passing a physical.

Watson appeared to slam his face mask into the turf while defending a deep ball down the sideline late in the second quarter and was immediately taken to the blue tent. Expect further update to come shortly.

The seventh-round rookie out of Washington State has started each of the Chiefs’ first two games and flipped last Thursday night’s game on its head with a 99-yard pick-six of Justin Herbert. Watson was thrown an eight times that night but allowed just three catches for 25 scoreless yards in his coverage on the outside.

Watson (6’2/197) spent his first two seasons at Ventura Junior College, earning Junior College Bureau first-team All-American honors each season. He transferred to Washington State for the 2019 season, playing two seasons at the FBS level, totaling 864 snaps. With a PFF grade of only 63.4 in 2021, Watson allowed 330 yards on 28 receptions. He did have two passes defended to go along with two picks. Watson has the requisite size and physicality for the position, but his struggles with agility and technique are a big issue. He would be best served in a cover three heavy scheme.

Watson (6'2/195) was a three-star JUCO transfer, but he won’t get a chance to put on the Cardinal and Gold due to academic issues. He plans on redshirting in 2019 and will find another place to play for the 2020 season. Before signing on with the Trojans, Watson was considering Texas Tech, Boise State, Toledo, and UTEP.