HOUSTON – Texans veteran wide receiver Justin Watson was activated from injured reserve after making a full recovery from a calf injury he suffered while recovering a blocked punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Watson was at the end of a 21-day window to be activated after returning to practice and being designated for return.
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A former Buccaneers fifth-round draft pick, Watson has caught three passes for 30 yards on four targets in two games this season.
The Texans waived defensive end Solomon Byrd to create a roster spot for Watson.
The Texans signed Watson in the offseason to a two-year, $5 million contract.
The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus and salaries of $1.75 million (fully guaranteed), and $2.25 million with $750,000 of it guaranteed in 2026. He has a $250,000 incentive in 2025. He has annual per game active roster bonuses up to $250,000, paid $14,705 per game.
A former Ivy League standout at Penn, Watson caught 22 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns last season for the Kansas Chiefs as he played in every game and started twice.
A 6-foot-2, 215-pound veteran, Watson has caught 87 career passes for 1,322 yards and nine touchdowns.
Two seasons ago, Watson caught a career-high 27 passes for 460 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games and eight starts on 53 targets.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.