Chiefs Roster: Justin Watson says the workforce has many proficient wideouts

Early within the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ coaching camp at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, huge receiver Justin Watson sustained what was initially feared to be a severe foot harm.

Luckily, the veteran wideout was again on the sphere in a matter of days. After sitting out the workforce’s first preseason recreation in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Watson recorded a 20-yard reception from Patrick Mahomes throughout Saturday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions.

Watson appreciates what vp of sports activities drugs and efficiency Rick Burkholder and his workers did to deliver him again.

“It seemed lots worse than it was,” he advised reporters on Monday. “I really feel fairly good on the market. I’ve acquired an enormous shout out to Rick and his entire workers — David Glover — [for] getting me again lots prior to I feel anybody anticipated. [I’m] simply blissful to be on the market — and feeling actually good.”

Sadly, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has recognized Watson as a participant who should now step up for an additional injured participant: huge receiver Hollywood Brown. Whereas Watson is blissful to do his half, he expects his teammate again sooner quite than later.

“At this level within the yr,” he defined, “we’re nonetheless simply all centered on enhancing a ton every day. That’s been the aim since we acquired right here in OTAs [and] since we began coaching camp. In order that’s actually no completely different: every of us is simply centered on enhancing.

“It was good seeing Hollywood within the constructing this week, and it looks as if he’s going to do the whole lot he can to get again shortly.”

The belief now positioned on Watson has been earned by way of two seasons in Kansas Metropolis, the place he’s been plugged into every receiver place in head coach Andy Reid’s offense — and constructing chemistry with Mahomes as he realized each element within the playbook.

“That’s all the time the development at first,” he defined. “You’re simply attempting to determine the performs on the sheet — after which after that, it’s, ‘OK, nicely, that is how the road is drawn on the sheet, however what do you’ve gotten inside the route that you may work with?’

“Now in my third yr, it’s actually about getting on the identical web page with Pat after I’m popping out of my breaks, realizing precisely the place he’s going to place the ball at — or in a sure play, how we’re attacking the protection.

“So, it’s been cool simply selecting up the place we left off. [We’re] capable of level to some previous yr’s movie and say, ‘Hey, run it such as you did final yr in opposition to this workforce or that workforce’ — simply persevering with to construct with the connection with Pat.”

One other participant who will probably be requested to tackle a part of Brown’s position is rookie Xavier Worthy, who completed Saturday’s recreation with 4 touches for 73 mixed yards and a landing. Watson is impressed with how shortly the rookie has blended into the offense.

“He’s lightning quick,” Watson stated of Worthy, “so to see him processing the sport quick — permitting him to play with a variety of that velocity — was simply actually cool to see. [It was] simply good seeing him make good selections on that landing — [to] acknowledge that there was no security in [the] center [of the] subject. [He] gave it a bit stutter after which took the grass.

“So simply seeing him take big strides every week — particularly final week to this week — I do know it’s going to maintain going all through the season.”

Watson additionally has excessive expectations for Rashee Rice throughout his second yr.

“I feel Rashee is in an superior place,” he declared. “To see him go from the place he was on the finish of final yr and take an enormous step to the place he’s at now has been cool to see. I feel he’s going to be an awesome chief for our room this yr — on and off [the] subject.”

However Watson believes the Chiefs’ huge receiver power goes past the gamers on the prime of the depth chart.

“We’ve had a variety of good receivers,” he famous. “I have a look at Skyy Moore as one other man — that I feel is in his third yr additionally — [who] has developed his position from simply enjoying one place to realizing all of the spots.”

Watson defined that this makes Moore an awesome candidate to step in at any level in a recreation — a trait he shares with Cornell Powell, who has by no means made the lively roster after being the workforce’s fifth-round decide in 2021. The previous Clemson wideout caught a landing cross in opposition to the Lions.

“He wasn’t speculated to be on that play,” revealed Watson. “We wanted a sub for one play —after which he makes the play of the preseason with an awesome catch.”

Because the senior veteran in Kansas Metropolis’s huge receiver room, Watson is aware of he performs a job in making ready his youthful teammates.

“I’ve all the time simply tried to be a pacesetter within the room,” he stated, “even my first yr right here after I was simply attempting to get my ft moist. It’s simply cool to know what the coaches need — [to] know what Pat needs — and be capable of share some perception with these guys in order that they don’t must study the laborious approach.

“It’s been enjoyable coming in as the brand new man — after which three years in, [I’ve] sort of discovered myself because the outdated man within the room: the man that’s acquired a bit extra grey hair right here and there.”