.jpg) Watson at theWhite House in 2023 | |||||||||
| No. 84 – Houston Texans | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Roster status |  Injured reserve | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1996-04-04)April 4, 1996 (age 29) Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | South Fayette (PA) | ||||||||
| College | Penn (2014–2017) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2018: 5th round, 144th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
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Justin Howard Watson (born April 4, 1996) is an American professionalfootballwide receiver for theHouston Texans of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for thePenn Quakers and was selected by theTampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the2018 NFL draft. Watson is a three-timeSuper Bowl champion, winningSuper Bowl LV with the Buccaneers andSuper Bowl LVII andLVIII with the Chiefs.
A 3-star wide receiver recruit, Watson committed to play college football forPenn over an offer fromBucknell.[1] In 40 career games at Penn from 2014-2017, Watson recorded 286 receptions for 3,777 yards and 33 touchdowns, and 44 carries for 339 yards and one touchdown.[2] As a senior in 2017, Watson was named Third-teamFCS All-American at wide receiver after recording 81 receptions for 1,083 yards and 14 touchdowns (a school record).[3]
Watson finished his college career as a three-time All-Ivy League wide receiver (2015–17) and a two-time Ivy League champion (2015,2016). He set the Penn career records farreceptions, receiving yards, receivingtouchdowns, and all-purpose yards.[4] He also holds the record for the most receiving yards in conference play in Ivy League history.[5][6]
| 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 ft2+3⁄8 in (1.89 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 33+3⁄4 in (0.86 m) | 9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | 4.44 s | 1.53 s | 2.60 s | 4.26 s | 7.08 s | 40 in (1.02 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 20 reps | |
| All values fromPro Day[7][8][9] | ||||||||||||
Watson was selected by theTampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round with the 144th overall pick in the2018 NFL draft.[10] He made his NFL debut on September 30, 2018, against theChicago Bears.[11] Watson caught his first career pass, a five-yard reception, on October 29, 2018, in a 37–34 loss to theCincinnati Bengals.[12] As a rookie, he appeared in 12 games.[13] On December 8, 2019, he caught his first career touchdown, a 17-yard reception from quarterbackJameis Winston.[5] In the 2019 season, he appeared in all 16 games and recorded 15 receptions for 159 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[14]
In Week 10 of the 2020 season against theCarolina Panthers, Watson recorded his first career sack on punterJoseph Charlton during a fake punt attempt during the 46–23 win. Watson was the first offensive player in Buccaneers' history to record a sack.[15][16][17] He appeared in 11 games and recorded seven receptions for 94 yards on the season.[18] Watson and the Buccaneers later went on to winSuper Bowl LV against theKansas City Chiefs 31–9.[19]
On July 24, 2021, it was announced that Watson would be out four months after undergoing knee surgery, and was placed on the PUP list.[20] He was placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on August 31, 2021.[21] He was activated on December 24.[22] He appeared in one game in the 2021 season.[23] He was waived on January 15, 2022, and re-signed to thepractice squad.[24][25]
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The Chiefs signed Watson to a one-year deal on February 4, 2022.[26] In the 2022 season, Watson appeared in all 17 games, of which he started five. He finished with 15 receptions for 315 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[27] In Watson's first season with the Chiefs, they wonSuper Bowl LVII against thePhiladelphia Eagles 38–35 with Watson catching two passes for 18 yards.[28]
Watson re-signed with the Chiefs on April 17, 2023.[29]
In the 2023 season, Watson had 27 receptions for 460 yards and three touchdowns.[30] The Chiefs wonSuper Bowl LVIII against theSan Francisco 49ers 25–22 with Watson catching three passes for 54 yards.[31] Watson won his third Super Bowl championship in the win.[32]
In the 2024 season, Watson had 22 receptions for 289 yards and two touchdowns.[33] In Super Bowl LIX, Watson recorded a two-point conversion in the 40–22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.[34]
On March 14, 2025, Watson signed with theHouston Texans.[35] He recorded three catches for 30 yards across his first two appearances with Houston. On September 17, Watson was placed oninjured reserve due to a calf muscle /Achilles injury.[36]
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2018 | TB | 12 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | TB | 16 | 2 | 15 | 159 | 10.6 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | TB | 11 | 2 | 7 | 94 | 13.4 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | TB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | KC | 16 | 5 | 15 | 315 | 21.0 | 67 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | KC | 17 | 8 | 27 | 460 | 17.0 | 41 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 73 | 17 | 65 | 1,033 | 15.9 | 67 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
