Sammy Watkins injury update: Chiefs WR leaves with calf injury

The Chiefs have lost wide receiver Sammy Watkins with a calf injury.

The Kansas City Chiefs have designated wide receiver Sammy Watkins as “doubtful” to return to the team’s Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons after watching him leave in the fourth quarter with a calf injury.

Watkins has caught 2 of 4 targets on the day for only 14 total yards in an afternoon where the Chiefs offense has looked out of sync for the entire game. The Chiefs currently lead 10-7.

The Chiefs have been hit by a few injuries on the afternoon, including leading up to the game, as linebacker Ben Niemann was also lost with a hamstring injury. At one point, tight end Travis Kelce came up limping and left only to turn right around and come back onto the field. The team is also missing running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire from the offense along with multiple offensive linemen.

Watkins is an important part of the Chiefs dynamic offense, so it stands to reason that Andy Reid and his staff will do whatever it takes to keep him healthy for when it matters most. While the Chiefs do not yet have the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC locked up just yet, it would take quite the planetary alignment for them to lose it, which means that they can play it safe with Watkins and save him for when it matters most in the postseason.

Watkins has 37 catches for 421 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns so far on the season in 9 games. Watkins has already missed several weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.