The Kansas City Chiefs are on pace to get back a key contributor to their defensive backfield just in time for the club’s playoff matchup with the Houston Texans.
Cornerback Jaylen Watson spent the last 11 weeks on Injured Reserve after fracturing his fibula and tibia in the Chiefs’ win over San Francisco on October 20. Initial reports said the former Washington State product’s 2024 campaign was over, but after surgery and rigorous rehab, Watson is recovering faster than the team expected.
On Tuesday, he was a full participant in practice and on pace to suit up for the Chiefs when they play the Texans in the AFC Divisional round on Saturday afternoon.
Head Coach Andy Reid told reporters he plans to use this week of preparation to evaluate if Watson is ready to play in a live game. So far, Reid says he’s optimistic.
“I kind of want to see this week and see how he does, but (from) what I’ve seen so far, it’s been good,” said Reid. “[Watson] is in good shape – I’m not telling you he can play a whole game, but I think he has a chance of playing. [But] we’ll see.”
Before he got hurt, Watson was a staple of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense, playing 91% of the defensive snaps through six games. The second-year corner accounted for 32 tackles and six passes defended, serving as a premium complement opposite All-Pro Trent McDuffie.
There’s no guarantee Watson will play on Saturday, but the thought of the Chiefs getting healthier as the playoffs progress is a scary one for the other AFC playoff contestants.
The Chiefs drafted Watson as a seventh-round pick in 2022. Since then, he’s been one of Kansas City’s top cornerbacks with 114 total tackles in 38 career games.
