KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wide receiver Justin Watson won’t play for the Chiefs Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Now the team might be without Jaylen Watson after the cornerback left practice early Friday with a thigh injury.
“Jaylen Watson did get hit in the thigh today at practice, so just towards the end there, we took him out,” head coach Andy Reid said. “So we’ll see where he’s at.”
Justin Watson is second among the team’s receivers with 219 yards on the season with 10 catches, averaging a team-best 21.9 yards per catch. Jaylen Watson averages almost 18 snaps per game on defense but is a core special teams player, ranking sixth on the team with 75 snaps. He has eight tackles on the season along with two broken-up passes in five games.
But Reid’s squad looks like it will receive reinforcements for Sunday’s contest against the Chargers. Newly reacquired receiver Mecole Hardman and defensive end Charles Omenihu, who is coming off a six-game suspension, appear likely to play Sunday, the head coach said.
“We’ll see but I’m thinking it’s going in that direction,” Reid said. “They did a nice job.”
Hardman was officially acquired via trade from the New York Jets on Thursday and practiced that day with the team. He also has four years of experience with the offense and should be comfortable slipping into a role on both offense and special teams.
The Chiefs have roster exemption on Omenihu but have until 3 p.m. central time Saturday to officially add him to the 53-player roster. The club has an open spot on the roster for him after waiving wide receiver Montrell Washington and defensive tackle Keondre Coburn earlier this week.
The Chargers have a much lengthier injury list with 15 different players appearing on the report this week. Edge rusher Joey Bosa (toe) and starting safeties Derwin James Jr. (ankle) and Alohi Gilman (heel) have been limited in practice this week.
Friday the team ruled out Gilman along with backup cornerback Deane Leonard. The club also placed backup safety Raheem Layne on injured reserve Thursday.
Bosa was upgraded to full participation on Friday while James did not practice. James is limited as questionable along with linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga
Chiefs Injury Report
OUT: WR Justin Watson
QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaylen Watson
Did not practice: WR Justin Watson
Limited participation: CB Jaylen Watson
Full participation: TE Travis Kelce (knee), WR Kadarius Toney (toe), DE George Karlaftis (hamstring), LB Nick Bolton (ankle), CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee) S Bryan Cook (neck), P Tommy Townsend (left knee) and DE Charles Omenihu (not injury related/return from suspension)
Chargers Injury Report
OUT: S Alohi Gilman, CB Deane Leonard, WR Jalen Guyton and DL Otito Ogbonnia
QUESTIONABLE: S Derwin James Jr. and LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
Did not practice: S Derwin James Jr., S Alohi Gilman (heel), LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (groin), CB Deane Leonard (hamstring)
Limited participation: S Jaylinn Hawkins (illness), WR Jalen Guyton (knee/physically unable to perform list) and DL Otito Ogbonnia (knee/physically unable to perform list)
Full participation: OLB Joey Bosa (toe), QB Justin Herbert (left finger), LT Rashawn Slater (ankle) C/G Will Clapp (knee), TE Donald Parham Jr. (wrist) and DL Sebastian Joseph-Day (knee)
