It's official. As many among Chiefs Kingdom expected ever since it was reported that he would be in Kansas City this week, Justin Watson has signed a rest-of-season contract to return to the Chiefs. While he will reportedly begin on the practice squad, it wouldn't be a surprise if Watson is activated for game day against the Los Angeles Chargers this upcoming Sunday.
Let's get the obvious out of the way. Justin Watson is merely a stopgap for the Tyquan Thornton injury and a depth piece rather than the answer KC needs at the position. At least that's what he should be. If Brett Veach and Andy Reid expect Watson to immediately step into Thornton's role and play 60-plus percent of the snaps, then we have some major internal issues.
What Watson needs to be is just that: a depth piece to be called upon if all else fails. He was a worthy contributor on two Chiefs Super Bowl-winning rosters, accounting for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in his trio of KC seasons. But after being cut by the receiver-needy Houston Texans last year, and now on the wrong side of 30, Watson's best days are most certainly behind him.
Kansas City needs to find some reliable high end production from the receiver position and Justin Watson cannot possibly be the answer
Options around the league are thin right now, especially after Marvin Harrison Jr. was taken off the board by the same Texans team. Tyreek Hill remains the glaring option, but who's to say that he is even healthy enough to play? And Hill, as is his way, is going through more off-the-field drama right now.
Brian Thomas Jr. would be a fantastic addition and one that would garner less than what Harrison went for in a second-and sixth-round pick. But it's rare that the Chiefs take big mid-season swings nearing the trade deadline. Chances are, they opt to feed their in-house options.
One of those guys should be Cyrus Allen. The rookie fifth-rounder out of Cincinnati and this year's training camp darling has yet to record a catch this year and has seen the field on just a handful of snaps. The Chiefs raved about his ability to separate versus man coverage and his pristine route-running skills all summer, which is exactly what they need right now. But despite Reid saying he expects to get Allen more involved coming out of the bye week, I'll believe it when I see it.
Either way, it's pretty clear that Watson does not move the needle much, or at all. I'm not mad at the Chiefs for bringing him back, but I will be mad at the overall process at receiver if that's all they choose to do.
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