 Watkins with theHouston Texans in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 96 – Tennessee Titans | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Practice squad | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1993-12-05)December 5, 1993 (age 31) Forest City, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Chase (Forest City) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Clemson (2012–2016) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2017: 4th round, 142nd overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Carlos Watkins (born December 5, 1993) is an American professionalfootballdefensive end for theTennessee Titans of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theClemson Tigers and was selected by theHouston Texans in the fourth round of the2017 NFL draft. Watkins has also been a member of theDallas Cowboys,Arizona Cardinals,Los Angeles Rams, andWashington Commanders.
Watkins attended Chase High School inForest City, North Carolina. As a junior, he tallied 50tackles (29 for loss) and 14.0sacks.
As a senior, he made 15 sacks, oneinterception and 5 forcedfumbles. He played in theShrine Bowl and theU.S. Army All-American Bowl.[1] He alsolettered inbasketball, averaging over 21 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior.
Watkins accepted football scholarship fromClemson University.[2] As atrue freshman in 2012, he played in nine games, recording 16 tackles (one for loss) and 3 quarterback pressures.
As a sophomore in 2013, he played in three games with one start, before being involved in a car crash which causedblood clots in both of his legs that ended his season.[3][4][5] Watkins medicallyredshirted the rest of the season. He totaled 11 tackles (1.5 tackles for loss) and one quarterback pressure.
Watkins returned to play as a redshirt sophomore in 2014. He appeared in 11 games a backup, registering 13 tackles (2 for loss) and four quarterback pressures.
As a junior in 2015, he started 14 of 15 games, collecting 69 tackles (8 for loss), 3.5 sacks, and an interception, which he returned for atouchdown. He was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference.[6] In a critical game against theUniversity of Notre Dame, he made a game-winning tackle on a last secondtwo-point conversion attempt.
As a senior in 2016, he posted 82 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss (led the team) and set the school record for defensive tackles with 10.5 sacks (led the team). He received All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors for the second consecutive year.[7] On January 9, 2017, Watkins was part of the Clemson team that defeatedAlabama in the2017 College Football Playoff National Championship by a score of 35–31, with him making six total tackles.[8] He finished his college career with 30 starts in 53 games, 191 tackles (26 for loss) and 14 sacks.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+1⁄4 in (1.91 m) | 309 lb (140 kg) | 34+5⁄8 in (0.88 m) | 10+3⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 5.01 s | 1.77 s | 2.95 s | 4.88 s | 7.97 s | 28.0 in (0.71 m) | 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) | 25 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10][11] | ||||||||||||
Watkins was selected by theHouston Texans in the fourth round (142nd overall) of the2017 NFL draft.[12] The Texans acquired the pick by tradingBrock Osweiler to theCleveland Browns.[13] As a rookie, he appeared in 12 games with 6 starts, playingdefensive end in a3-4 defense. He made 21 tackles (3 for loss) and one pass defensed.
In 2018, he appeared in 4 games and was declared inactive in 11 contests. He did not play in the seventh game against theJacksonville Jaguars. He tallied 3 tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit, and one sack. In the season finale against the Jaguars, he had 3 tackles (one for loss), one sack and one quarterback hit.
In 2019, he appeared in 10 games with one start, posting 23 tackles (one for loss), one sack, 2 quarterback hits, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. He started and had 6 tackles (three solo) in the season finale against theTennessee Titans.
In 2020, he appeared in 16 games with 11 starts, collecting 27 tackles (4 for loss), 2 sacks and 2 quarterback hits.
On March 22, 2021, Watkins signed with theDallas Cowboys, to play as adefensive tackle in a4-3 defense.[14][15] He appeared in 15 games with a career-high 14 starts, while making 32 tackles (4 for loss), one sack, one interception and one pass breakup. He missed the third game against thePhiladelphia Eagles with a sprained knee. On December 2, 2021, Watkins intercepted a pass fromNew Orleans Saints quarterbackTaysom Hill and returned it 29 yards for his first NFL touchdown.
On March 22, 2022, Watkins re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year contract.[16] He was released on August 30, 2022, and signed to thepractice squad the next day.[17][18] He was promoted to the active roster on October 22.[19] He appeared in 12 games with 4 starts, collecting 30 tackles and one forced fumble. His starts came afterJohnathan Hankins was placed oninjured reserve with a pectoral injury.
On March 30, 2023, Watkins signed with theArizona Cardinals.[20] He suffered a biceps injury in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve on September 23.[21] He appeared in 2 games with one start, collecting 7 tackles (one for loss), one sack and one pass defensed.
On August 14, 2024, Watkins signed with theLos Angeles Rams.[22] He was released on August 25.[23]
Watkins signed with theWashington Commanders' practice squad on August 28, 2024.[24] He appeared in one game.
On September 18, 2024, the Cowboys signed Watkins to their active roster off the Commanders' practice squad.[25] In Week 10 against thePhiladelphia Eagles, he made 4 tackles. He appeared in 15 games and had 12 tackles.
On May 13, 2025, Watkins signed with theTennessee Titans.[26] He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[27]
