KC Chiefs’ rookie Jaylen Watson wins AFC Defensive Player of the Week award
Chiefs rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson produced a game-changing play last Thursday, a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The NFL on Tuesday recognized Watson’s effort in the Chiefs’ 27-24 Week 2 win at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium by naming him the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week.
“I’m very humbled. It’s a great feeling,” Watson said Wednesday. “But I’ve got a 24-hour rule: Celebrate it — I’m glad it was on Thursday; I could celebrate a little longer than 24 hours — but I’m on to the next one.”
Watson’s play came at a critical time. The Chiefs and Chargers were locked in a 17-17 tie in the fourth quarter, and the Chargers were threatening to score during a first-and-goal situation at the 3-yard line.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s pass to tight end Gerald Everett was picked off by Watson at the 1-yard line and returned the other way, giving the Chiefs the lead. Watson’s heads-up play was the longest go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown by a rookie in NFL history.
“The drive before, when we were on the sideline, J-Reid (teammate safety Justin Reid) was telling everyone, ‘They’re gassed. They’re tired. Just keep going,’” Watson said. “I was just looking at my man, and it was like, ‘He’s tired, he’s tired, he’s tired.’ Someone told me he asked to come out the play before, but they told him to stay in. I just made a play on the ball.”
Watson, whom the Chiefs selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, finished the game with four tackles, an interception and a pass defensed.
He still saw room for growth Wednesday even after his award-winning weekend.
“I feel like the great part about football is you can never perfect it. There’s always room for improvement,” Watson said. “So I never get complacent on what I’ve done in a game. I’m always looking at things I can improve on, which is a lot.”
Tuesday’s announcement marked Watson’s first career Defensive Player of the Week award. He joins former Chiefs Marcus Peters (three times) and Mike Hughes (2021) as Kansas City cornerbacks to receive the honor in the past 10 seasons.
Watson is the second Chiefs player to secure a league award in as many weeks. Last week, the NFL recognized quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week for his five-TD performance in the Chiefs’ Week 1 victory at Arizona.
This story was originally published September 21, 2022 at 8:38 AM.
