Jaylen Watson, the Rams’ $51 million investment at cornerback, gave up two touchdown passes in his 2026 debut, which is double the amount he was blamed for in his previous two seasons combined with the Chiefs. This ain’t the fresh start L.A. envisioned after they poured that kind of cash into overhauling their secondary this offseason, not one bit.
Two TDs, 53 Yards, and a Whole Lotta Questions
Look, it’s always tricky to dump all the blame for a touchdown on one guy, especially when you’re the closest defender. But Watson was squarely on the hook for allowing three catches on five targets for 53 yards and those two scores. On the first touchdown, Watson started by covering Mike Evans, then had to absolutely sprint downfield to try and catch Demarcus Robinson, who had already blown past safety Kam Kinchens. That scramble accounted for one of the touchdowns and most of those yards against him. The dude was hauling ass trying to get there, but he was too slow, especially with that toe injury he picked up right before the flight to Australia.
Watson isn’t exactly a speed demon, we know that. He was a seventh-round pick back in 2022, and it’s actually pretty impressive how solid his NFL resume is without blazing speed. But this play? You could see the struggle. It felt like watching a seven-step drop under center with no play-action, a beauty of a ball by Purdy, and Watson was a step too slow. You can’t have your big money corner constantly chasing ghosts, especially with what they spent to upgrade the position.
Mossed at the Goal Line and What’s Next
Then came the second touchdown. Watson was again on Mike Evans, this time at the goal line, and Evans straight up dominated him at the point of the catch. I mean, Evans is special, a potential Hall of Famer even, but getting “mossy” like that in your first game isn’t the look you want. And let’s be real, Evans won’t be the last tall red zone monster Watson faces this season. QBs were already starting to test Watson more last season with the Chiefs, letting up seven catches for 104 yards against the Cowboys in Week 13 and a touchdown in Week 16 against the Titans. He allowed zero touchdowns in his six games in 2024, so this is a major regression.
Watson’s debut was not ideal, no kidding. Frankly, it sounded like a rough day all around for the Rams, with Myles Garrett, Matthew Stafford, and Davante Adams also having off days. But for a guy handed $51 million to lock down a secondary, the pressure to rebound is massive. Next Sunday, the Rams face the Giants, who could have Malik Nabers and Odell Beckham, Jr. waiting. Watson is gonna need to bounce back hard, and fast, because the money L.A. spent demands it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply