The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a huge win on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, taking down the once-presumed NFC Super Bowl favorite, with a final score of 28-18. Though the game pushed the Chiefs into an undefeated 6-0 record, they lost a great player en route to their sixth win of the season.
Star cornerback Jaylen Watson went down during the game, clutching his leg. He was then carted off the field, where further test results revealed that he suffered a broken fibula and tibia. Watson was placed on IR, and the feeling already is likely to miss the rest of the season. However, depending on how fast he recovers, he could come back during the Chiefs’ presumed playoff push.
To combat the loss of Watson, the Chiefs have already made a move in the secondary. The team announced they have elevated cornerback Keith Taylor to its active roster from its practice squad. Taylor will now presumably add depth or push Nazee Johnson for the starting position opposite Trent McDuffie.
Taylor spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he logged 67 total tackles, six passes defended, and one forced fumble. In the 2023 season, he joined the Chiefs’ practice squad. Taylor was waived in Aug. 2024 but resigned from the practice squad immediately after. Now, he gets a big chance to showcase his talents while stepping in for the injured Watson. Before Watson’s injury, the young corner secured 32 total tackles and six passes defended. He was already becoming a star in the secondary and matched well with McDuffie. Now, Watson will presumably be recovering for the rest of 2024.
The Chiefs remain the only undefeated team in the NFL. They are currently 6-0 on the season and look like they have the right core in place to take a run at a third consecutive Super Bowl victory. Should they achieve that goal of winning in Feb., they will become the first team in the Super Bowl era to do that.
The team is down several starters like offensive stars Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco, and Juju Smith-Schuster. Now, they’ve added Watson to that growing list. Despite the losses on both sides of the ball, the Chiefs continue to roll through opponents. With the trade deadline approaching, expect the Chiefs to make some moves to acquire either more receiving help, or to help patch up the secondary. To ensure they will make it to a third consecutive championship game, expect them to do both.
