KC Chiefs’ Andy Reid Sheds New Light on Justin Watson’s Elbow Injury

There's a new detail regarding Watson's injury, as well as his potential recovery timeline in the coming days and weeks.

As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for a Week 7 battle against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, the team has just one major injury-related storyline to follow on Wednesday. Wide receiver Justin Watson will not practice, per head coach Andy Reid, with there being a bit more clarity available for his situation.

According to Reid, Watson's elbow injury is a contusion. This is a different designation than the dislocation that was reported last week, with multiple insiders adding that X-rays for anything too serious were negative. Watson's MRI didn't reveal any significant damage at the time, which was viewed as a good sign for his prognosis. Not too much changes with Reid's description of a contusion, which is more good news. There's another positive sign, too.

When asked about a potential injured reserve stint for Watson, Reid said the team expects him to avoid that. An IR trip would mean a minimum of four consecutive games missed, so the absence of one indicates that the Chiefs don't expect him to be out for all four of the club's upcoming contests (Chargers, at the Denver Broncos, in Germany against the Miami Dolphins and home against the Philadelphia Eagles). Sandwiched between the Miami and Philadelphia games is a Week 10 bye.

Each new piece of news on Watson has strayed further and further away from the initial worst-case scenario. The 27-year-old went down in the fourth quarter of Kansas City's Week 6 win over the Broncos with the injury after failing to haul in a pass, although Reid confirmed following the game that the elbow wasn't broken. Testing ruled out a season-ending ailment, and now the focus shifts to getting the veteran back out on the field at some point during the next month. 

With Watson missing practice, the Chiefs will continue to try to get on the same page in the wide receiver room. Rookie Rashee Rice has been the most impressive receiver of the group this year, hauling in 21 passes for 245 yards and a pair of scores. Behind him, the trio of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney has been nothing short of a mixed bag through six weeks. Second-year man Justyn Ross is an intriguing threat, albeit one who is still finding his way. Watson will surely be missed for as long as he's out, but Reid's added detail goes along with the outside expectation of a return happening sooner rather than later.

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