Quez

Watkins

Watkins was once upon a time an Eagles folk hero reserve but has not appeared in a regular season game since 2023. Also waived/released by the Eagles were LB Chance Campbell, WR Britain Covey, WR Danny Gray, EDGE Tarron Jackson, OG Michael Jordan, RB Dameon Pierce, TE Stone Smartt, CB Ambry Thomas, CB Shaun Wade,DT Uar Bernard, DT David Blay, CB Isaiah Bolden, C Zeke Correll, WR Erik Ezukanma, LB Brandon George, DB Kapena Gushiken, DT Gabe Hall, G/T Myles Hinton, EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby, TE Cameron Latu, LB Deontae Lawson, DB Jaylen Mahoney, G/C Jake Majors, RB Jordan Mims, OT John Ojukwu, S Maximus Pulley, EDGE Jose Ramirez, S Andre’ Sam, RB Carson Steele, WR Samari Toure, WR Tahj Washington, EDGE Joshua Weru, OT Cameron Williams, DT Zion Wilson and S Cole Wisniewski.

Smith reportedly re-injured the triceps muscle that he tore during Super Bowl LIX. He underwent surgery to repair the torn tissue this offseason. The Eagles believe Smith will not require surgery and hope to have him back “around” their Week 9 bye. Players placed on injured reserve are eligible to return after missing four games. The Eagles also placed CB Jakorian Bennett and WR Darius Cooper on injured reserve with undisclosed injuries. Both players are likewise expected to avoid surgery and are expected to return around Week 9. The Eagles signed S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu, and CB Parry Nickerson to the active roster, and LB Lance Dixon, DB Eli Ricks, and WR Quez Watkins to the practice squad.

Watkins was a sixth-round pick of the Eagles back in 2020 and caught 98 passes for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns during his four-year tenure with the team. He hasn’t played a regular season snap since 2023 and has also bounced around between the Steelers and Cardinals over the last two years. If signed, Watkins wouldn’t be any more than added depth to a receiver room that is currently five players deep. In addition to Watkins, the Eagles also hosted WR K.J. Osborn and DE Isaiah Foskey for workouts.

It’s a bit of a surprise given the Steelers’ lack of depth at wide receiver, but that’s perhaps an indictment on Watkins’ ability to stick on an NFL roster. The 26-year-old has attracted attention for his speed after the Eagles drafted him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s totaled 98 catches for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns in 49 career games. He may need to sign to a practice squad to start 2024. The Steelers also waived/released LB Kyron Johnson, LB Luquay Washington, LB Jacoby Windmon, LB Marcus Haynes, DB Zyon Gilbert, DB Thomas Graham, DL Willington Previlon, DL Jacob Slade, OL TyKeem Doss, OL Joey Fisher, QB John Rhys Plumlee, RB Aaron Shampklin, RB Jack Colletto, RB La’Mical Perine, RB Jonathan Ward, TE Matt Sokol, TE Rodney Williams, WR Jaray Jenkins, WR Duece Watts and WR Dez Fitzpatrick.

Watkins is a speedy receiver who was drafted by the Eagles in the sixth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s totaled 98-1,249-6 in 49 career games, and won’t be much more than a depth signing at this stage in his career. He’s coming off a career-low 15-142-1 in nine games last season.

With A.J. Brown going down and the Eagles playing catch up, Watkins made the most of his opportunities. He scored the Eagles’ only touchdown on a pass from Marcus Mariota. Depending on the severity of Brown’s injury, Watkins could be depended more upon moving forward into the playoffs.

Watkins has been sidelined with the hamstring issue for most of the season and was placed on injured reserve after Week 5. Now healthy, he should reclaim the WR3 role in Philly. Even with Dallas Goedert out, it’s unlikely he or anyone else does much in that role with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith dominating the targets.

Julio Jones was removed from the injury report. Watkins is on injured reserve but had his practice window opened earlier this week. Even with Dallas Goedert out, we don’t recommend looking down the Eagles’ depth chart at receiver for viable fantasy options.

Watkins suffered the hamstring injury in Week 2, re-aggravated it in Week 5, and was placed on injured reserve a few days later. With Dallas Goedert currently sidelined, there could be room in the offense for a third receiver to emerge as a long-shot fantasy option. Watkins will likely reclaim his starting role once healthy, but he still has a 21-day window to be officially activated from injured reserve. He is worth keeping an eye on, but for now, fantasy managers can avoid anyone outside of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith in the Philly passing attack.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean was activated from injured reserve in a corresponding move. Olamide Zaccheaus will serve as the Eagles’ third receiver for the foreseeable future. He is not worth an add in even the deepest of fantasy leagues.