Two games into his NFL career, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson is earning high marks.
The rookie seventh-round pick out of Washington State was named AFC defensive player of the week on Wednesday after his 99-yard interception return for a touchdown helped power the Chiefs to a 27-24 win against the Chargers last week at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I’m very humbled,” Watson said. “It’s a great feeling, but I’ve got a 24-hours rule. Celebrate it, but I’m on to the next one. I didn’t expect it because I know a couple players had good weeks. But I was just humbled and truly blessed.”
Watson also had four tackles against the Chargers in his first career start. Watson was filling in for first-round pick Trent McDuffie, who is out with a hamstring injury.
The pick-six gave the Chiefs a 24-17 lead with 10:29 to go in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs later added a field goal before the Chargers scored a touchdown late.
“I think everyone felt that it brought an extra energy to the team as a whole and not just the defense,” Watson said of his interception. “We had a bend-but-don’t-break mindset, and fortunately that’s what happened and now we’re on to the next one.”
Watson, a native of Augusta, Ga., wasn’t highly recruited. He spent his first two seasons in junior college playing at Ventura College in California. There he was recruited by USC but was ruled academically ineligible and returned home to work at Wendy’s with his mother.
Watson later earned a scholarship from Washington State and became an All-Conference player before being drafted by the Chiefs.
Coach Andy Reid said he wasn’t surprised Watson has played so well this soon.
“He had a good camp,” Reid said. “You saw him get progressively better during camp. He played obviously at a high level in college. So he’s played against good competition. I think most of all it was the progress he made at camp. He has good size, can run. You saw that after the interception. That was beautiful.”
Watson, though, still has a few things he plans to improve on beginning Sunday when the Chiefs play the Colts.
“I did pretty well in coverage,” Watson said. “I want to finish better, getting the ball out. Speed is different being in the open field trying to tackle ball carriers so just tackling in open space, which is so hard to do at this level and just see things faster and keep watching film and get a better chemistry with the guys I’m running with now.”
