Peyton Watson
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Peyton Watson during a game against the Houston Rockets in November 2025
Ahe latest Peyton Watson injury update signals he could return to the Denver Nuggets soon, as the breakout star this season has missed six weeks with a lingering hamstring strain.
While Watson, having the best season of his young career,hasn’t played since early February, the latest update on the 23-year-old wing might meanhe’s set for an injury return soon.
According to Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette, the Nuggets believe Watson will return sometime this week.
Sounds like the hope remains the Nuggets get Peyton Watson back sometime this week. Wouldn't expect it tomorrow or Wednesday. https://t.co/2th6rZExh4
— Vinny Benedetto (@VBenedetto) March 16, 2026
In 49 games for Denver this season, Watson is averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and two assists on 49.6% shooting.
Peyton Watson Injury Update
Previously, Watson was one of the few of theNuggets’ top contributors listed on the injury report, but after Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun returnedhealthy,he’s remained out. The original injury return timeline was four weeks, buthe’s since passed that point.
Last week, it was reported that the forward was hopeful to return sometime soon, and that now appears to be the case, according toBendetto’s update.
“Sounds like the hope remains the Nuggets get Peyton Watson back sometime this week,”he wrote on X. “Wouldn’t expect it tomorrow or Wednesday.”
Vinny Benedetto
Peyton Watson is playing some 3 on 3 after today’s practice. Should get an update from David Adelman in a bit.
He added that Watson was participating in 3-on-3 workouts after theteam’s practice, traditionally a good sign that any player is ramping up for a return from injury.
But as he wrote,Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers,as well as Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies,feels unlikelyfor a return, meaningDenver’s Friday night contest against the Toronto Raptors isWatson’s most likely return date.
Before the hamstring strain, Watson was playing the best basketball of his career alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. He even earned a Player of the Week award from the NBA, perhaps one of the more unexpected players to ever win the weekly honor.
Despite the latest injury update, Watson is still the only player listed onDenver’s injury report.
Peyton Watson Free Agency Rumors
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While he is having the best season of his four-year NBA career, Watson will be a restricted free agent this summer and is likely to garner attention from teams with salary cap space to spend, specifically, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Writing for ESPN, Kevin Pelton reported that the Lakers will be a top team interested in the 23-year-old.
“Restricted free agency is trickier for a team such as the Lakers thatcan’t afford to wait out the matching period, but Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson — an L.A.-area native who played at UCLA — might be gettable via sign-and-trade because ofDenver’s tax situation,”Pelton wrote.
Though Los Angeles hasbeen linked to several wing players in offseason rumors, they expect to be one of several teams lining up to sign him, as the possibility of Denver, already with a loaded salary cap, keeping him this summer is unlikely.
“It must be said, though, that rival executives are increasingly curious aboutDenver’s likely struggles to retain Peyton Watson this summer, given the fourth-yearswingman’s recent breakout play amid all of theNuggets’ health woes,”Jake Fischer wrote on The Stein Line substack.
“We’ll certainly be tracking this situation over the coming months, sinceWatson’s restricted free agency is already shaping up to become a major domino of the offseason. Sources say teams thatare projected to have cap space — notably such as the Lakers — are already preparing interest.”
While he has been out with the hamstring strain, Watson is tabbed to land a pay raise this summer from a contending hopeful team looking to add wing talent. If his play this season is any sign of what his full potential is, he could be in line for a new contract worth $20 million per year.
NBA Base
PEYTON WATSON JUST PUT CHET HOLMGREN ON A POSTER. 😱🔥
For now, still with the Nuggets, he remains out, but the latest Watson injury updatesignals he couldget back on the court sometime in the next few days.