The Kansas City Chiefs have a habit of bringing back former players when they need them most. Right now, many fans want Kansas City to bring back wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the former Chiefs star the team traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Injuries to wide receivers Tyquan Thornton and Rashee Rice have created uncertainty at wide receiver, and everyone keeps bringing up Hill. There’s still no further news on Hill’s situation. However, there is news regarding another former Chiefs wide receiver. Reports indicate during the bye week that Kansas City is interested in signing free agent wide receiver Justin Watson.

Here’s what Justin Watson brings to the Chiefs

Watson is a three-time Super Bowl champion, and two of those rings came with the Chiefs. He spent three years in Kansas City and four with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Watson was a solid contributor with the Chiefs.

His best season came in 2023, when he caught 460 passes for 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Watson spent three seasons in Kansas City, catching 64 passes for 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Last season, Watson played for the Houston Texans. He appeared in only three games and caught three passes for 30 yards. He has been a free agent this entire season.

Those numbers from Houston won’t jump off the page. But the Chiefs aren’t looking at Watson because of what he did with the Texans. They’re looking at him because of what he already knows.

Why the Chiefs keep going back to former players

When you look at the free agents available at wide receiver, Watson is one of the very few who could come in this late in the season and pick up what Chiefs coach Andy Reid likes to run. That’s a big reason Kansas City keeps bringing back guys who used to play there. It’s the same system, so they don’t have much left to learn.

Bringing in a receiver who has never played in this scheme is a different story. We hear about it every offseason when new players arrive. They talk about the adjustment, and about how much there is to learn in Reid’s offense. That kind of learning curve is tough to manage midseason, especially when the receiver room is already banged up.

In Watson’s case, he wouldn’t have much to learn, if any. Maybe there’s some new terminology or a few small wrinkles, but the foundation would already be there. He knows the route concepts, the timing, and what Patrick Mahomes expects from his receivers.

To be fair, Watson was never the No. 1 option in Kansas City. He doesn’t need to be now. The Chiefs aren’t asking him to replace Rice. They need someone reliable who can step in quickly without slowing down the offense.

Kansas City needs help at wide receiver

The interest makes sense, and the Chiefs should be interested. They need wide receiver help badly. With Thornton and Rice both dealing with injuries, the depth is thin, and Kansas City can’t afford to roll with a short-handed group for long.

Watson feels like a guy who could still help this team in a big way, given where it is right now. He has won with this organization, produced in this offense, and wouldn’t need weeks to get comfortable. Regardless of what happens with Hill, the Chiefs just need more bodies who can catch the ball and get open for Mahomes. Watson checks those boxes, and he might be the easiest fit available on the market.