Chiefs elevate veteran receiver Justin Watson from practice squad for Seahawks game
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The gist
The Kansas City Chiefs elevated veteran wide receiver Justin Watson from their practice squad for Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks.
It is his second straight call-up, filling in while top receiver Rashee Rice is injured.
Background
Justin Watson is a veteran wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs who was on the team's Super Bowl LV, LVII and LVIII rosters. From 2022 to 2024 he recorded 64 receptions for 1,064 yards and 7 touchdowns with Kansas City, mostly as the fourth receiver, and is coming off a 2025 Achilles injury. The Chiefs have been without top wide receiver Rashee Rice for nearly a month after he hurt his right hamstring in the Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, and they ruled him out for the Seahawks game, opening a depth role Watson can fill.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026Watson reverted to Kansas City's practice squad after playing just one offensive snap and three special-teams snaps in Week 6.
- Oct 23, 2026A to Z Sports reported it did not expect Watson to be called up that week, saying his status could hinge on how the team filled a linebacker gap.
- Oct 24, 2026The Chiefs elevated Watson to the active roster for their Week 7 Sunday Night Football matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, his second practice-squad elevation of the year.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Athlon Sports said adding Watson makes sense because he is a familiar target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
- Analysts
- A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman said Watson is likely emergency depth at wide receiver, since Nikko Remigio plays strictly on special teams.
Still unverified
A to Z Sports projected before the move that Watson would not be called up that week and that his status could depend on how the team filled a linebacker gap; the Chiefs then elevated him.