KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs announced the activation of Jaylen Watson from injured reserve on Friday, preparing for their upcoming divisional-round playoff clash against the Houston Texans. This move aims to bolster a defensive backfield that had been relying on substitutes since Watson sustained an ankle injury on October 20.
Watson, who was a seventh-round draft pick in 2022, secured a starting position alongside prominent cornerback Trent McDuffie during training camp. Prior to his injury, the 26-year-old was showing significant improvement and contributing positively to the team’s defense. His injury occurred during a match against the San Francisco 49ers, leading to an initial belief that it might end his season. However, healing progressed quickly, allowing him to return to practice in recent weeks. This development raised optimism in Kansas City about his availability for Saturday’s game, leading to his activation after the final team walkthrough.
“He’s put in an incredible amount of effort to reach this stage, and we’ll see how it translates in terms of game appearances,” said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “He certainly has demonstrated commitment to get here.”
Joshua Williams stepped in as the main substitute for Watson during his absence, though his performance has been marked by inconsistency. Other players, including Chris Roland-Wallace, Chamarri Conner, and Nazeh Johnson, have also had increased responsibilities while Watson was sidelined. Regardless, they will all continue to play important roles in Kansas City’s defensive strategy as they aim to contain Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
In addition to Watson, the Chiefs elevated linebacker Swayze Bozeman and safety Deon Bush from the practice squad, while wide receiver Mecole Hardman has been ruled out for the matchup. Hardman remains on injured reserve due to a knee injury sustained back in November.
Historically, the Texans have struggled in divisional-round playoff games, failing to secure a victory in five attempts. On the other hand, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes seeks to maintain his perfect postseason record in this round, as he leads the team in their quest for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.
