After three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Justin Watson is starting a new chapter with the Houston Texans this season. The 29-year-old was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams after coming over from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022 and was looking to add that veteran leadership to the Houston Texans after signing a two-year, $5 million deal in March.
While that is a sizable commitment, it took just two games for the relationship to sour. Watson hasn’t played well over the first two weeks and is on an offense looking for a spark. Fans are starting to turn to alternative options to help the Texans put more points on the board, but Watson’s presence has become more of a headache as Houston looks to dig itself out of an 0-2 hole.
Texans’ Offense Stalling as Former Chief Justin Watson Blocks Young Playmakers
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Watson’s first two games in Houston have fallen in line with an offense that has struggled to get going. He served as the team’s primary slot receiver after Christian Kirk suffered a significant hamstring injury during the preseason, but he hasn’t taken advantage, with just three catches for 30 yards over the first two games.
Meanwhile, the Texans also have two rookies who would benefit more from Watson’s role. Second-round pick Jayden Higgins flashed frequently during training camp and preseason, and third-round pick Jaylin Noel was also counted on to improve the Texans’ receiving group this summer. It even appeared [that Watson was losing a grip on his role](https://kckingdom.com/former-chiefs-wr-officially-losing-position-battle-with-new-team-01k2mr8tvqm8) as the two rookies shone throughout the offseason.
But through two games, the rookies have combined for four catches for 67 yards, with Higgins grabbing a 28-yard reception during Monday night’s loss to the Buccaneers and a 23-yard grab in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams.
[Pro Football Focus](https://premium.pff.com/nfl/positions/2025/REGPO/receiving?position=WR&team=13) also charted Higgins with 2.31 yards per route run over the first two games, but at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he’s more of a receiver on the outside. Noel may be the better fit for Watson’s current role after playing 54.3% of his snaps in the slot during his final year at Iowa State. But the veteran 55 to 32 over the first two weeks, averaging 0.94 yards per route run compared to Noel’s 0.30 average.
Perhaps Watson’s advantage has to do with the security blanket element that coaches love. Watson usually ran the right routes and made the right play in a reserve role with the Chiefs, and the Texans are throwing him out there knowing he won’t shipwreck a play. But the Texans are in just as dire straits as the Chiefs with the NFL’s lowest points total (28) over the first two weeks.
The Chiefs could probably use a receiver like Watson right now, but salary cap restraints have prevented that from happening. Instead, Watson is becoming a roadblock to younger, more dynamic options and holding back a Texans offense that could use a shot in the arm.
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