The Chiefs are gaining unexpected momentum as they strive for the first three-peat in NFL history.
Star cornerback Jalen Watson, who has been out since Week 7 with a fractured fibula, will return to practice on Friday. Fox Sports reported.
Watson was previously thought to be out for the season due to a serious foot injury, but being eligible to return seems to mean the Kansas City star will return for the playoffs.
The Chiefs have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, opting to not start for at least two weeks and using most of their key players against the Broncos in Week 18.
Kansas City's first playoff game is scheduled to be played by Jan. 18, giving Watson plenty of time to prepare for the playoffs.
Watson showed off his mobility. Video posted on Instagram There, he was seen limping, backpedaling, and pivoting off his injured leg.
Fox Sports reported that Watson “has been working hard behind the scenes with the Chiefs training staff to get back on the field for the playoffs.”
Fractures of the fibula usually keep athletes out of action for several months, but recovery time varies from person to person.
But the Chiefs' medical staff is no stranger to such injuries, and running back Isaiah Pacheco also dealt with a fractured fibula and returned in about 10 1/2 weeks.
Watson is rated as the fifth-best player on the Chiefs' defense, according to Pro Football Focus, and plays a key role on the defense.
The Defensive Adjusted Value Average (DVOA) statistic showed how much the Chiefs' defense declined when they went down with injuries.
The Chiefs' defense was in the top three in DVOA until Week 7, dropped to 15th, and has since rebounded to its current 9th place in the league.
Watson defended six passes in just six games.
