With Sammy Watkins questionable, Chiefs elevate wide receiver from practice squad

Chiefs wide receiver Gehrig Dieter has been activated from the practice squad, fueling speculation that Sammy Watkins might not play on Monday Night Football at the Los Angeles Rams.

Watkins is the Chiefs’ third-leading receiver with 39 catches for 515 yards and three touchdowns. He missed last weekend’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals because of an injured foot.

Andy Reid said on Saturday that Watkins has been making progress. Watkins was a limited practice participant on Thursday but didn’t practice on Friday or Saturday. He is listed as questionable for Monday’s game.

Dieter, who played his final college season at Alabama, was signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and was a member of the practice squad last year.

If Watkins is unable to play, the Chiefs have other options at wide receiver behind starters Tyreek Hill and Chris Conley. Demarcus Robinson and Marcus Kemp would likely see increased snaps.

The Chiefs signed cornerback Josh Hawkins, mostly recently of the Carolina Panthers, to the practice squad. Hawkins started three games for the Green Bay Packers last season.

Blair Kerkhoff

Blair Kerkhoff covers the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and college sports for The Star.

This story was originally published November 18, 2018 at 3:18 PM.