KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ top wide receiver this season, Justin Watson, left the game early in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury.
Watson landed hard after attempting a diving grab on a go route up the Chiefs’ sideline.
He stayed down after failing to catch the pass.
As he walked off the field, Watson appeared to gingerly grab his left wrist or forearm, which he used to brace himself as he went to the ground.
After the game, Andy Reid addressed Watson's injury, but it's too early to know if and for how long it might affect his availability.
“We’ll just see how he does here," Reid said. "It’s not broken, so that’s a positive thing.”
The Chiefs also have a mini bye after playing on Thursday night, which provides a couple extra days for treatment and healing.
Second-year wide receiver Justyn Ross said Watson is “a great leader in the receiver room” and someone the offense doesn’t want to lose for a significant amount of time.
“It would be a blow for sure,” Ross said. “Next man up; we’d have to keep going. But we’re definitely hoping he’ll be back soon.”
Watson didn’t have a catch Thursday against Denver at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, but he entered the game with 10 catches for 219 yards.
Only All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce — who entered the Broncos game with 27 catches for 222 yards, both team-highs — had more receiving yards this season than Watson.
Watson is also a key contributor on special teams and helped pin the Broncos inside the 5-yard line on punt coverage earlier in the game.
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