Not suiting up Sunday

Watson (illness) is listed as inactive Sunday against the Rams, Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports.

Analysis: Watson's availability for the NFC Championship Game was clouded when appendicitis was revealed as the reason for his absence from practice Wednesday and Thursday. Despite the diagnosis, he so far has avoided surgery and even was a limited participant at Friday's session, leading to a questionable designation. However, his condition hasn't improved enough to reintroduce him to the rigors of tight end. In Watson's stead, Josh Hill, Garrett Griffin and Dan Arnold will hold down the position in the…read more

Questionable, but not expected to play

Watson is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Rams. However, he isn't expected to play due to appendicitis, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The Saints merely termed Watson's condition an illness all week, but despite the diagnosis, he followed up back-to-back absences with a limited showing at Friday's session. Considering his listing of "questionable," he appears to have a shot to suit up this weekend, however dire his health may seem. Unless his condition worsens, expect Watson's status to remain in limbo until the Saints release their inactive list 90 minutes before Sunday's 3:05 PM ET kickoff. No matter if Watson is available,…read more

Diagnosed with appendicitis

Watson will be held out of Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams due to appendicitis, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Watson kicked off the week with back-to-back absences as a result of an illness, which now has been clarified. So far, he's sidestepped surgery, but the situation is severe enough for the veteran to be ruled out well in advance of Sunday's contest. Watson has declared his intention to retire after this season, so a Saints loss Sunday would put an end to a 15-year career. Expect Josh Hill, Garrett Griffin and Dan Arnold to hold down the fort at tight end this weekend.

Held out again Thursday

Watson (illness) didn't practice Thursday, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Watson has played second fiddle to fellow tight end Josh Hill in terms of offensive snap count for most of the campaign. That said, Watson is the superior receiving option, especially in the red zone, so his status will be one to monitor in advance of Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams. Friday's injury report will provide the final word on his potential to suit up.

Comes down with illness

Watson was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's injury report due to an illness, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Since his intention to retire after the season came to light in late December, Watson likely will take every measure to play during the Saints' postseason run. As a result, an appearance at practice Thursday or Friday may not be mandatory for the veteran tight end to take the field for Sunday's NFC Championship Game versus the Rams.

Wrapping up career after playoffs

Watson said Thursday that he's planning on retiring after the 2019 season, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: While he's never been a big-name tight end during his time in the NFL, Watson has carved out a 15-year career through his well-rounded skill set and positive presence in the locker room. Even at 38 years old, Watson has remained a quality complementary piece in a prolific Saints offense, tallying 33 receptions for 371 yards and two scores. He'll have another opportunity to add to that total in the regular-season finale Sunday against the Panthers, though he and the Saints' other starters are…read more

Notches reception in win

Watson caught one of his two targets for a six-yard gain during Sunday's 31-28 win over Pittsburgh.

Analysis: After gathering at least four receptions in four of his first six games of the season, Watson has caught multiple passes just once over his last seven contests. The lagging production has come in spite of the dearth of appealing receiving options beyond top wideout Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara. With Ted Ginn (knee) returning from injured reserve in Week 16 and contributing five catches for 74 yards, Watson now finds himself lower in the pass-catching hierarchy. As if that didn't…read more

Lays out for 28-yard catch

Watson caught one of two targets for 28 yards during Monday's 12-9 win over Carolina.

Analysis: Watson set up the Saints' second field goal of the game late in the first quarter when he laid out for a long corner route off of play action. He was quiet the rest of the night. Despite a dearth of established targets in New Orleans, Watson hasn't topped 30 yards in a game or scored since Week 9. At the same time, the Saints offense has sputtered, scoring fewer than 13 points in two of the last three games -- an uneven performance against a weak Tampa Bay defense sandwiched in between. Next up…read more

Most yards since Week 9

Watson caught three passes for 24 yards in Sunday's win against the Buccaneers.

Analysis: It has been an extremely quiet second half of the season for Watson, who has just eight total catches over his last seven contests. In fact, Watson's modest 24 receiving yards were his most since Week 9. While potential touchdowns are always on the table in the Saints' typically high-scoring offense, Watson simply has not done enough to warrant every-week consideration in most fantasy leagues, even given the ugly state at tight end.

Nabs pass in win

Watson pulled in one of two targets for 20 yards during the Saints' 31-17 Thanksgiving win over Atlanta.

Analysis: Watson's lone catch came midway through the third quarter, up the right sideline to help set up a Dan Arnold touchdown. Drew Brees tried to take a shot toward Watson in Atlanta territory earlier in the game. Watson has been targeted just four times over the past three weeks but still has some value as one of the few established targets remaining on the Saints' roster. Thursday's matchup with Dallas should be tough, though. The Cowboys rank in the top half of the league against the pass with 255…read more

Just misses multi-score day

Watson had one catch for one yard in Sunday's win against the Bengals.

Analysis: Fantasy owners certainly won't be pleased with the box score, but Watson was a whisker away from a multi-score day. First, Watson uncharacteristically dropped an easy touchdown from Taysom Hill on a pop-pass trick play from the 1-yard line in the second quarter. Then, Watson caught what appeared to be a two-yard score in the third quarter, but the touchdown was reversed on replay review. The veteran tight end is averaging just three catches per game and has yet to top 71 yards in a single…read more

Catches touchdown

Watson caught three of four targets for 62 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 45-35 win over the Rams.

Analysis: Watson didn't see many targets, but he averaged a healthy 20.7 yards per reception as he finished second on the team in receiving. He made an especially nifty 32-yard catch to set up a touchdown in the second quarter and added a 13-yard score of his own just before halftime. This was a nice bounce-back performance for Watson after he was held without a catch last week, but his role remains heavily dependent on game flow. He'll look to build on this effort next Sunday against the Bengals.

Invisible Week 8

Watson was not targeted in Sunday night's win against the Vikings.

Analysis: A week after catching six passes, including Drew Brees' 500th career touchdown toss, Watson was nearly invisible in Minnesota. With the Vikings deploying an extremely conservative game plan, the Saints actually ran more times than they threw, resulting in blocking tight end Josh Hill out-snapping Watson by a count of 34 to 14 offensive snaps. Like most of the tight ends in the league, the Saints' offensive game plan does not revolve around feeding Watson targets, so his usage will continue to…read more

Nabs Brees' 500th touchdown

Watson caught all six of his targets for 43 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 24-23 win over the Ravens.

Analysis: Watson put New Orleans on top late in the second quarter, popping up in the back of the end zone on a play fake for a 1-yard score, Drew Brees' 500th touchdown pass for his career. There has been a good deal of interest in how Ted Ginn's (knee) targets will be divvied out now that the veteran is on injured reserve. Watson is a legitimate candidate. He has caught all 10 of his targets in the two games Ginn has been out, including a season-high six on Sunday. A sometimes-porous Vikings pass…read more

Four catches in Week 5

Watson caught all four of his targets for 30 yards in Monday night's win against the Redskins.

Analysis: With Drew Brees torching Washington's corners on the outside, there was little need to look Watson's way over the middle in a blowout victory. Still, the veteran tight end managed a trio of second-half catches to help salvage his night. Despite continuing to split snaps with tight end Josh Hill, who scored on a one-yard touchdown Monday, Watson remains the preferred receiving option. Given the fantasy wasteland at tight end, Watson still probably deserves low-end-starter consideration most…read more

One catch Week 4

Watson caught one pass on three targets for 23 yards in Sunday's win against the Giants.

Analysis: Watson again split snaps fairly evenly with Josh Hill -- 37 snaps for Watson compared to 43 snaps for Hill -- though it was Hill who had the bigger statistical output, hauling in all three of his targets for 63 yards. Nevertheless, Hill is primarily used as a blocker in the Saints offense, so Watson should remain the preferred tight-end receiving option. The veteran is a back-end starting option in many fantasy leagues.

Comes alive in Week 3 win

Watson caught five of six targets for 71 yards in Sunday's 43-37 overtime win over the Falcons.

Analysis: Watson finished a distant third in receiving yards behind Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, both of whom topped 120. Still, this was a big step in the right direction after he totaled just 63 yards in Weeks 1 and 2 combined. The veteran tight end will look to build on this performance next week against the Giants.

Three catches Week 2

Watson had three catches on five targets for 19 yards in Sunday's win against the Browns.

Analysis: The Saints' starting tight end played 54 of the team's 66 offensive snaps, but mustered little production. That said, Watson was one of only four Saints who saw more than one target and he should have had a bigger day, as quarterback Drew Brees overthrew him on what would have been a wide-open two-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Watson remains a decent, albeit unexciting, starting option at tight end in many fantasy leagues.

Four catches in opener

Watson caught four passes for 44 yards in Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers.

Analysis: Watson significantly outsnapped backup tight end Josh Hill -- 51 offensive snaps compared to 24 -- and his 4 for 44 stat line is probably a reasonable expectation for the 37-year old veteran. Watson should remain a solid, albeit unexciting, option at tight end in many fantasy leagues.

No practice Thursday

Watson wasn't present at Thursday's practice, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Watson's absence from the final practice before Saturday's exhibition versus the Chargers is an ominous sign for his availability. In the end, though, the Saints should clarify the status of their starting tight end, whether he's dealing with an injury, a personal matter or something else. Once the regular season rolls around, he'll be aiming to replicate his 74-825-6 line from his previous stint with the Saints in 2015.

Could be used as downfield receiver

Watson could be utilized as a downfield receiver this season, Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: A beat reporter's speculation about player usage isn't usually noteworthy, but Katzenstein's reporting aligns with similar accounts about Watson, who has looked as spry as ever in training camp at 37 years old. Moreover, the prediction that Watson could help stretch the field is hardly out of left field. The Coby Fleener experiment was a failure, but up until the last two seasons, tight ends have been heavily featured in the Saints offense under head coach Sean Payton. Although it seems likely…read more

Quiet despite starting

Watson started Friday's preseason game against the Cardinals, but he didn't draw any targets on 18 snaps.

Analysis: After missing the first week of the preseason with an undisclosed injury, Watson returned to practice last weekend and proved his health Friday night. He figures to get plenty of snaps on a team without much talent at his position, but it would be unwise to expect a reprisal of his 2015 target count (109) from his last stint with the Saints. In addition to being three years older, Watson is now part of a far more balanced team.

Rejoins practice Saturday

Watson (undisclosed) returned to practice Saturday, Joel A. Erickson of The Baton Rouge Advocate reports.

Analysis: Watson suffered the undisclosed issue during Monday's practice, but the veteran tight end appears to have avoided anything serious in this case. After a one-year stop in Baltimore, the 37-year-old tight end is expected to head his position group again in New Orleans this season, with Josh Hill and Michael Hoomanawanui serving as his primary backup options.

Nursing undisclosed injury

Watson appeared to suffer an injury during Monday's practice, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: Watson was removed from the first practice of the week with a member of the training staff at his side. While the Saints have yet to comment on the injury, the 37-year-old tight end was held out again Wednesday. Josh Hill and Michael Hoomanawanui (undisclosed) have been working with the first-team offense in Watson's absence.

Watson agreed Wednesday with the Saints on a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: After failing to lure back fellow former New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham in free agency, the Saints turn to another veteran option with experience working with quarterback Drew Brees. While Watson doesn't bring as much obvious upside to the table as Graham, the 37-year-old still logged 61 catches for 522 yards and four touchdowns with the Ravens in 2017. His presence bolsters a tight-end group that was previously headed by Coby Fleener (concussion) and Josh Hill (finger). With Watson now in…read more

Watson visited with the Saints on Tuesday, Herbie Teope of The Times-Picayune reports.

Analysis: On the heels of his 14th NFL season, Watson seems intent on continuing his playing career, meeting with the Chiefs and now the Saints during the current free-agent period. During his stay with the latter organization from 2013-15, he capped it off with his most productive year, gathering in 74 of 110 passes for 825 yards and six touchdowns. The 37-year-old tight end is well within the twilight of his career, but he clearly is still capable of fruitful performances after posting a 61-522-4 line…read more

Watson visited with the Chiefs this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Watson didn't seem to draw much interest in the early days of free agency -- not exactly surprising for a 38-year-old tight end coming off a season in which he had 8.6 yards per reception. He actually led the Ravens in catches (61) and receiving touchdowns (four) last year, but that largely was a function of the team's lack of alternative options in the passing game. Watson now figures to settle for backup work, assuming he ends up playing another season. His 74-825-6 receiving line while…read more

Watson caught seven of 10 targets for 61 yards in Sunday's season-ending loss to the Bengals.

Analysis: Watson was once again the safety blanket for quarterback Joe Flacco, and had 16 receptions for 175 yards and a touchdown over the final three games of the season, ending the season as the Ravens' second-leading receiver (61 catches for 522 yards). The 37-year-old will enter free agency in 2018 after missing the entirety of 2016 with a torn Achilles, and retirement seems like a definite consideration, although no announcement has been made one way or the other.

Watson caught five of six targets for 40 yards in Saturday's win over the Colts.

Analysis: The veteran tight end turned in another solid performance in Week 16 and has now recorded multiple receptions in four of his last five games. Watson's 54 receptions on the year tie him with Seattle's Jimmy Graham for ninth in the league among tight ends. Obviously, Watson's touchdown production hasn't been in the same stratosphere as Graham's, but Watson does have some sneaky utility in PPR leagues that play into Week 17.

Watson caught all four of his targets for 74 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Browns.

Analysis: Watson came into the game with a meager average of 7.7 yards per reception, and he failed to catch a pass the previous week in a 39-38 loss to the Steelers. His unexpected outburst primarily was fueled by a 33-yard touchdown, but he also had gains of 18 and 14 yards, accounting for three of his 10 longest receptions this season. Watson gets another favorable matchup Week 16 against the Colts, though his track record this season remains far from encouraging.

Watson was not targeted during Sunday's 39-38 loss to Pittsburgh.

Analysis: Watson was on the field for 33 of Baltimore's 64 offensive snaps, but that was only good enough to tie for second among the team's tight ends with Maxx Williams, and he was eight behind Nick Boyle. Watson is the best receiving tight end on a team that goes heavy in its formations. Still, the veteran has seemed lost in the shuffle at times, failing to top 45 yards receiving in any game since Week 2. The trend is moving downward, but the good news is Watson takes on his Week 2 opponent, the…read more

Watson caught three of five targets for 24 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Lions.

Analysis: Sunday marked the first time since before the bye that Watson saw five-or-more targets from quarterback Joe Flacco. He responded with another multi-reception outing and added his third touchdown of the year. Nick Boyle's ability as a run blocker has a slight impact on Watson's snap counts and Danny Woodhead's return cuts down on Watson's targets between the 20's. Watson has a tough matchup on the docket next week against Pittsburgh's defense that is among the league's best in slowing down…read more

Watson snagged all three of his targets for 29 yards in Monday's 23-16 win over Houston.

Analysis: It was the fourth time this season that Watson caught every pass that has come his way. The veteran tight end gets plenty of work, 41 snaps on Monday, as a backup in Baltimore's ball-control offense, but the numbers haven't been there. Watson hasn't topped 45 yards receiving since Week 2 and has scored just once since Week 3. His talents don't shine as bright in Baltimore's last-place pass offense.

Watson caught his lone target for a 33-yard gain in Sunday's 23-0 win over the Packers.

Analysis: Watson was left wide open across the middle on the second snap of the third quarter. He otherwise was all but invisible, though fellow tight ends Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams -- three combined catches for eight yards -- didn't fare much better. The long gain and the lack of volume both seem like aberrations, as Watson drew at least four targets in each of the previous six games, most recently catching seven of 10 targets for 41 yards in a loss to Tennessee right before Baltimore's bye in Week…read more