Watkins (undisclosed) signed to Philadelphia's practice squad Wednesday.
Watkins most recently spent time with Arizona, having been cut by the Cardinals with an injury settlement back in August. Now healthy, the 2020 sixth-round pick reunites with the organization that drafted him. Watkins will operate as an emergency depth option on the practice squad.
The Cardinals released Watkins (undisclosed) from IR on Sunday with an injury settlement, per the NFL's transaction log.
Watkins suffered an undisclosed injury during practice early August and was placed on IR, but he'll now be eligible to sign elsewhere and play during the 2025 season, once fully healthy. He spent time on the Steelers' practice squad last year.
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Cardinals' Quez Watkins: Moved to IR
Rotowire
The Cardinals placed Watkins (undisclosed) on injured reserve Saturday.
Watkins left practice Friday with an undisclosed injury, and he's now required to miss the entire season unless he reaches an injury settlement with Arizona. The Cardinals signed Nate McCollum in a corresponding move to take Watkins' roster spot as wideout depth.
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Cardinals' Quez Watkins: Headed to Arizona
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Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Watkins spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Eagles, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite signing a one-year, $1.29 million contract with the Steelers this past March, Watkins wasn't able to earn a spot on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp. He signed with the Steelers' practice squad in late August but was not elevated to the active roster during the regular season or the playoffs. Watkins will be a part of the Cardinals' 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12, and he'll participate in OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a spot on Arizona's 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign.
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Quez Watkins: Back with Steel City
Rotowire
The Steelers signed Watkins to the practice squad Friday.
Watkins wasn't able to make Pittsburgh's 53-man roster in a depth wide receiver role, but he'll stick around on the practice squad. The Steelers have just five wide receivers on the active roster, and with third-round rookie Roman Wilson nursing an ankle injury, Watkins has a chance of being elevated for Week 1 against the Falcons.
It's not a great sign for his career prospects that he couldn't win a roster spot with one of the most WR-needy teams in the league. Watkins spent much of the past four years as Philadelphia's No. 3 receiver, but it was never a high-volume role and he maxed out at 62 targets in 2021.
Steelers' Quez Watkins: Targeted once in preseason loss
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Watkins failed to secure his lone target while rushing once for six yards during Saturday's 9-3 preseason loss to the Bills.
Watkins was on the field for 53 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps Saturday, but he didn't see many touches during the low-scoring loss. He didn't have any offensive touches during last weekend's preseason opener, and he could have to put together a productive outing during next Saturday's preseason finale against Detroit to bolster his case for a spot on the 53-man roster.
