Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson will undergo surgery to repair his broken ankle in the coming days, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Fowler also revealed Watson’s specific injury: a broken fibula-tibia.
#Chiefs DB Jaylen Watson will undergo surgery in the coming days for a broken fibula-tibia (ankle) after tests confirmed the injury, per sources.
Outside chance he’s back for a late playoff push, source adds, but his season very well could be over. pic.twitter.com/ZZdumqcSgJ
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 22, 2024
Watson, 26, won the team’s starting cornerback position out of training camp, and his defensive production had been a pleasant surprise.
💔
— Wat’s Island🏝 (@JaylenWatson12) October 21, 2024
Before suffering his regular-season-ending injury against the San Francisco 49ers, he had compiled 32 tackles (21 solo) and six passes defensed. As of Tuesday’s report, Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s No. 28 cornerback. For context, his counterpart Trent McDuffie currently stands at No. 17.
The next-man-up is likely to be another seventh-rounder: third-year cornerback Nazeeh Johnson.
“Every week he’s gotten better and stronger, and so that’s the main thing,” said head coach Andy Reid of Johnson. “He’s a good player. Just that he has the confidence in his leg and the leg’s strong and that just happens by playing. Every week, it’s been a positive going forward, and he’s ready for the spot.
“[Joshua Williams has] also been in there, he’s done it, so he knows what it takes. Two different body types, and we’ll need both of them and they both need to step up. Watson was having a heck of a year. Now these guys have an opportunity here to step in and do the same.”
Fowler indicates that Watson could be in for a playoff return, a timeline similar to that of wide receiver Hollywood Brown. Kansas City also anticipates defensive lineman Charles Omenihu and running back Isiah Pacheco could rejoin the club sometime during the regular season.
