Tag: Sammy Watkins

Chiefs HC Andy Reid on potential replacements for Kelechi Osemele, Sammy Watkins

Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke about the players that could fill in for the two players injured in Week 5.

The Kansas City Chiefs have two players who suffered injuries Sunday afternoon who are expected to miss time.

Starting LG Kelechi Osemele is certain to be missing time after suffering tendon tears in both of his knees. His season is likely over and he has a long road to recovery.

As for WR Sammy Watkins, things are a bit more up in the air. Andy Reid said he “tore his hamstring” following the Week 5 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s not yet clear the severity of his tear as he’ll be evaluated later today. It is possible that this is a minor tear, which wouldn’t keep him out for a long time or require surgery.

“Sammy’s a good player,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said on Monday. “We’ll see how he does here. The guys are just coming in now. We’ll see how it looks, but if Sammy can’t play, we’ve done that throughout last year for a few games and the year before that. So we put the next man up and go. I’m not going to take away from how good of a player he is. He’s a terrific player, but we also have some other guys who can play too.”

The offense tends to play better with Watkins on the field. They’ve averaged more points per game and total yards per game over the past two seasons when he’s in the game.

“He plays a little bit of the low post for you,” Reid continued. “He does a good job with that. He’s strong. But again, we can work around that and we’ve got other guys who can step in and fill those types of roles.”

One of those guys is second-year WR Mecole Hardman. There were some lofty expectations for Hardman to start the 2020 season and he hasn’t quite met them. Through five games, Hardman has just 13 receptions on 17 targets for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

“Mecole (Hardman) just needs to keep growing and keep working,” Reid said of the second-year wideout. “He got a few reps yesterday and so that’s a step forward for him. We’ll see how he does as we go forward here.”

Shifting back to the Osemele injury, one player that has been somewhat forgotten is Martinas Rankin. Rankin is currently on the PUP list after suffering a knee injury in 2019. During the 2019 season, he started five games at left guard for the Chiefs and played very well. Rankin is eligible to return from the PUP list beginning in Week 7, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be making an immediate return.

“Yeah, so Rank (Martinas Rankin) has done a good job of working to get back,” Reid said. “He’s not quite there yet but he’s working at it.”

They’ll likely ease Rankin back into the swing of things when he does begin practicing. Another option brought up to Reid was second-year OL Nick Allegretti, but it doesn’t seem he’ll be getting an opportunity to start just yet.

“(Nick) Allegretti, he’s been in kind of that swing position,” Reid said. “Kind of covering the bases at both the guard and at center. He’ll still be in that position. (Mike) Remmers would be the one that steps in right now.”

Reid did note that Allegretti would play that swing guard position with Remmers being inserted into the starting lineup. The Chiefs don’t intend to go away from Remmers after he filled in during Week 5. He’s your new starter at that spot for the time being until something changes.

Right now, the Chiefs feel like they have the depth and options to overcome these injuries, short term and long term. They’ll stick with the “Next Man Up” mentality so long as it remains sustainable to do so.

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Eagles CB Darius Slay endorses Stephon Gilmore’s big-play ability

From one star cornerback to another.

Regardless of 26-10 being on the final scoreboard, the New England Patriots played an extremely tough game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.

The defense held Kansas City to 13 points through three quarters and the lack of Cam Newton resulted in four turnovers from the quarterback position. Brian Hoyer had an interception and a fumble, while Jarrett Stidham threw two picks in the fourth quarter.

Stephon Gilmore and his secondary was doing everything in their power to keep the Patriots afloat. While down by six points to start the second quarter, Gilmore forced a fumble on Sammy Watkins that was recovered by the Patriots.

Philadelphia Eagles star cornerback Darius Slay shouted Gilmore out with this tweet.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is making plays, just like he’s used to doing.

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Patriots’ Stephen Gilmore punches ball out of Chiefs’ Sammy Watkins’ hands

A couple of ex-Buffalo Bills got together and Stephon Gilmore forced Sammy Watkins to fumble.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ Sammy Watkins and the New England Patriots’ Gilmore spent time together in Buffalo from 2014-16. That didn’t prevent New England’s elite DB from using quite a punch on the Chiefs’ WR Monday, sort of.

Watkins made a catch in the second quarter and Gilmore delivered a knock-out punch that separated the ball from Watkins. The Patriots recovered.

 

Patriots vs. Chiefs 2020 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online

How to watch Patriots vs. Chiefs

The New England Patriots (2-1) will hit the road for their toughest regular season matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) in Week 4.

New England’s coming off an impressive 36-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, where they showed dominance on the ground with 250 rushing yards. The defense forced three fumbles, recovered all of them and even scored with the final recovery.

Kansas City cruised past one of the league’s best defenses, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 34-20 on Monday night. The reigning Super Bowl champions are on pace to have another championship season and the Patriots are one of the few teams in the AFC who have a chance to stop them.

Here’s how to watch:

Game information:

New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs

Monday, Oct. 5, 7:05 p.m. ET

Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Streaming:

Live stream: fuboTV (try it free).

Television channels:

CBS

WBZ-TV Channel 4

Broadcasters:

Jim Nantz (play-by-play)

Tony Romo (play-by-play)

Tracy Wolfson (sideline)

Radio:

Sports USA

98.5 The Sports Hub

Weather:

74 degrees

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Report: Chargers LB Denzel Perryman not fined for hit on Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins

No fines for Chargers headhunter Denzel Perryman.

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The player responsible for taking Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins out of the Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers will not be fined by the NFL according to a new report.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Chargers LB Denzel Perryman was not among the players fined by the NFL following his Week 2 hit on Watkins, which left him in the NFL’s concussion protocol. There was no flag on the play, but the NFL doesn’t need a flag in order to enforce a fine for helmet-to-helmet contact. Those who dole out fines examined the tape and determined it was not egregious enough to warrant a fine.

Following the Week 2 game, Chiefs HC Andy Reid was irate with the fact that it happened and wasn’t called a penalty on the field.

“Sammy (Watkins) got a hit to the head that was very questionable,” Reid said following the game. “Anyway, he got a hit to the head — we’re not supposed to have those in our game ever.”

Watkins took to social media following the game to let fans know that he was alright. He was wobbly getting up from the play and had to be helped to the sideline as he clutched his head. He wanted everyone to know that he harbored no ill-will for the helmet-to-helmet hit.

Watkins is currently listed as questionable for Monday’s game. Andy Reid’s latest comments on his status were positive, though.

“He practiced in full the last couple days,” Reid said. “He had a stiff neck, and tribute to the kid, he lived in the training room and got the knot in there worked out and I think he feels pretty good right now. So, we’ll just monitor him as we go and see how he does.”

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Daily Fantasy: The one Chiefs player you need to start in Week 3 on DraftKings

Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins could be a daily fantasy sports sleeper in Week 1.

It might require you to sit on pins and needles, but holding tight until Monday Night Football in regard to your fantasy football lineup could pay off in Week 3 as the Kansas City Chiefs square off against the Baltimore Ravens.

In regard to who to target for a start against the Ravens, look no further than Week 1. On opening day, the Chiefs took on the Houston Texans in a high-flying offensive contest. The Texans have taken a step back in comparison to the Ravens, so expect another plethora of points to go around, or even more so.

Pending his health, Chiefs wide receiver Sammy Watkins is sticking out like a sore thumb. At $7,400 salary cost on DraftKings, the second-highest among all quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes isn’t a cost-efficient option. Instead, go with Watkins and his $4,500 salary. DraftKings allocates an average of $5,555 per position, and Watkins can save you a few dollars for elsewhere.

Yes, the Ravens do have the best defense Watkins and the Chiefs have faced this season, but they have the best offense, too. The Chiefs are poised to need to put some points up themselves in this one. The last time the Chiefs had this feeling heading into a game, it was the opener, and Watkins was relied on by Mahomes.

Watkins, dealing with head injury, is listed as questionable, but he took to social media to indicate he’s healthy. That combined with nine targets, seven catches and a touchdown in Week 1 make him a smart play.

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Chiefs injury updates following Week 2 vs. Chargers

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered some injuries in their Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t escape their hard-fought overtime win against the Los Angeles Chargers without injuries.

During the course of the game, the Chiefs lost CB Antonio Hamilton, RB Darrel Williams, DE Frank Clark and WR Sammy Watkins. Reid confirmed that Hamilton suffered a groin injury, Williams an ankle injury and that Clark was dealing with an illness. The injuries for Hamilton, Williams and Clark were all announced by the team during the game.

As for Watkins, Reid wasn’t too thrilled about his injury or the way that it was handled. During the game, he was visibly upset with the officials for not calling a penalty for helmet-to-helmet contact.

“Sammy Watkins got a hit to the head that I thought was very questionable,” Reid said, via Nate Taylor of The Athletic. “We’re not supposed to have those in our game.”

Reid could not confirm or deny that he was in the concussion protocol or dealing with a head injury, though it sure looked like it during the game.

“I’ll get you that later,” Reid said of Watkins’ status in the concussion protocol. “I can’t tell you that right this minute. I’d presume he is, but I don’t have that for you right now.”

Hopefully, the team will be able to get some injured players back with a long week to go until the Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens on “Monday Night Football.” They’ll need all the help they can get as they face their top opponent in the AFC on the road.

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Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes continues to improve at the quarterback position

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes continues to be open about his desire to improve at the quarterback position.

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The career of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has started magically. It seems that he’s accomplishing new feats and earning new accolades each and every game. The former league and Super Bowl MVP has been open about his desire to improve overall as an NFL quarterback. He wants to reach the level of mastery achieved by the all-time greats at his position.

Mahomes made headlines over the summer while as a guest on Lebron James’ HBO show “The Shop” for openly discussing his desire to better read NFL defenses. The former Texas Tech star had another stellar performance during last Thursday’s opening night victory over the Texans appeared to have taken his game a step further. Mahomes explained his thoughts and self-criticism on the game during Wednesday’s press conference.

“Yeah, I think it was just more reading the feel of the game. The defense was doing a great job of getting stops,” said Mahomes. “We had kind of gotten up on them early, and instead of trying to force that deep shot maybe, I just used the guys underneath and moved the ball down the field and scored. There’s going to be times here and there where I need to take that deep shot. There were a couple in the game that I missed, one to Tyreek (Hill) early in the game. We ended up getting the first down but maybe a chance to hit him on a big play. Then the one to (Travis) Kelce down the sideline, where I threw the check down just a little too early. There were times where I could’ve taken that shot and I just need to know when and where to do it and try not to miss them whenever I get the opportunity.”

One of Mahomes’ main targets during the victory was wide receiver Sammy Watkins who hauled in seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. Watkins was less critical on his quarterback’s performance and instead focused on the essential intangibles.

“Of course, I think he’s moving as the offense is, when he’s getting the ball in his hands, you know teams are going to blitz us more,” Watkins said. “I think he’s just going to continue to get better. I think that coaches have probably been working on him the whole camp with getting a ball out of his hands pretty quick, and he’s a guy that he knows the game, he knows the coverages and he knows where to go with the ball. So, if he sees something open, why not just throw it and get the ball off him. And you know Pat loves the big plays, and I just think he’s growing up and being that elite quarterback is saying, like, ‘huh, let me just check it down and move to the next play’ and that’s a special guy we have on our team.”

The Chiefs are already thrilled with the production of Mahones since he first entered the league. The notion that he feels there is still more growth on the horizon, that he can make better decisions with the football, is a scary picture for the rest of the league.

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Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins undervalued in fantasy football projections

Watkins’ current value in fantasy football drafts should have Kansas City Chiefs fans and others clamoring to draft him.

Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins restructured his contract this offseason to stick with the team that helped make him a Super Bowl champion. In two seasons with the Chiefs, across 22 games started, Watkins has recorded 92 catches for 1,162 yards and six touchdowns. He added 464 yards and one touchdown on 24 catches in the postseason in Kansas City.

Watkins’ week-to-week success and injury history has perplexed fantasy football players for the past two years. He already sat out of training camp for a few days with a groin injury. It seems like Watkin is a player who has hot streaks and cold streaks, with a lot of standout moments in the postseason. That has turned Watkins into one of the most criminally underrated players in fantasy football. Just yesterday I was able to draft him with the 169th pick in round 15 of a PPR league.

Here’s what our friends at The Huddle had to say about Watkins.

“Watkins remains the slot receiver and just renegotiated his contract low enough to stay. Despite two years with Mahomes, Watkins only averages around 600 yards per year and scored three times in each. He’s capable of the big game on occasion, but he just as likely to turn in just a few fantasy points in any week.”

The Huddle’s projections for Watkins this season are a measly 510 yards and three touchdowns on 40 receptions. In his last three games, during the 2019-20 playoffs, Watkins had performances of 76 yards, 114 yards and 98 yards. He added a touchdown in that middle game too. That’s over half of Watkins’ expected production for the entire 2020 season by The Huddle’s estimation.

Additionally, many are crowning second-year WR Mecole Hardman the handcuff to Chiefs’ top wideout Tyreek Hill. Hardman had a productive year on limited opportunities in his rookie season and he’s been working hard all offseason. He should be due for a big year, but is he really the handcuff to Hill? When Hill was out with an injury in 2019, Watkins played over 90% of snaps on offense in Kansas City in each of the first four games before suffering an injury himself in Week 5. Hardman didn’t have a snap share higher than 78% all season long.

Both Watkins and Hardman will get their share of the targets in Kansas City, but if Watkins continues the tear he was on in the 2019-20 postseason, it’ll be hard to keep him off the field. At his current value, he could be a late-round steal in your fantasy leagues.

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Injury update from Chiefs training camp: Chris Jones, Sammy Watkins return to practice

A pair of veterans returned to practice for Kansas City while a rookie was carted off the practice field.

The Kansas City Chiefs had another padded practice on Friday.

Here is the full list of players that didn’t practice today:

  • CB Lavert Hill (Hamstring)
  • DE Frank Clark (Illness)
  • DE Alex Okafor (Calf)
  • DE Demone Harris (??)
  • LB Damien Wilson (??)
  • CB L’Jarius Sneed (“Tweak”)
  • LT Eric Fisher (Concussion)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (Hamstring)
  • TE Deon Yelder (Groin)
  • TE Ricky Seals-Jones (Leg)
  • OT Martinas Rankin (PUP)

The good injury news surrounds the return of Chris Jones and Sammy Watkins, who both were out of practice for several days dealing with groin injuries. They’re both back in pads and at practice, in a limited capacity, easing both players back into action. This is good progress with the season opener being just under three weeks away. Fox 4 reporter Harold Kuntz captured video of both players in pads during individual drills.

Rookie DE Mike Danna, who has been one of the players drawing rave reviews out of training camp, suffered a leg injury during practice and was carted off according to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor. It’s never a good sign when the cart comes out for a player. He was the lone injury during the course of practice on Friday according to Andy Reid. Reid said that Danna, “tweaked his calf.” Danna makes the fourth defensive end out of practice. The only healthy defensive ends in Kansas City are Tanoh Kpassagnon, Breeland Speaks, Taco Charlton and Tim Ward.

There were a number of defensive players absent from practice. Reid described rookie CB L’Jarius Sneed as receiving a rest day due to a “tweak.” DE Demone Harris and LB Damien Wilson were also held out of practice according to media members in attendance at practice. Reasons for their absences were not provided.

Tyreek Hill was absent from practice, spotted working in the weight tent. He suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday. That injury is reportedly considered to be minor. Reid described Hill as day-to-day and said the injury “is not a tear.”

Second-year safety Juan Thornhill still was relegated to individual work. He’s going on Day 3 of not being cleared for contact and team drills. Andy Reid said on Wednesday that the team intends to ramp-up Thornhill’s workload as they go.

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