Quez Watkins addresses drop in the Super Bowl, reveals he played through injury this season
With 6:20 remaining in the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl LVII, Jalen Hurts took the snap, dropped back, and hit Quez Watkins in the hands downfield around the 10-yard line.
Watkins couldn’t haul it in.
Safety Juan Thornhill was draped on his back and may have altered the catch, but it was a play that could’ve made the difference. The Eagles eventually settled for a field goal on the drive. This was just one of several instances throughout the season where Watkins came up short in a critical moment.
The third-year WR addressed the drop and his shortcomings during locker clean-out following the Super Bowl, saying that he didn’t play up to his standards this year:
#Eagles WR Quez Watkins says he took a step back this year
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) February 14, 2023
“It was a very humbling season”
pic.twitter.com/tzRKfQIfN8
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“My biggest thing was late hands,” Watkins said of the drop. “I was running for 2-3 yards with my hands up, that allows the DB to have a key of when the ball was coming. He [Thornhill] had the key and grabbed my shoulder when it was time to catch the ball. So I didn’t have that full extension of what I needed. All in all, it was my execution and my details.”
The referees didn’t call a hold on Thornhill for the shoulder grab but later called the infamous hold on James Bradberry that essentially ended the game. I’m fine with letting the players play, but be consistent.
Watkins also revealed that he played through a Grade 2 shoulder strain suffered in the Week 13 matchup vs. Tennessee. The injury occurred on a triple-reverse pass late in the third quarter.
After recording 647 receiving yards in 2021, Watkins caught just 33 passes for 354 yards this season. Of course, the addition of AJ Brown contributed to his regression as the entire offense had to adjust. Watkins has shown flashes of his playmaking ability since being drafted in the sixth round out of Southern Miss; he’ll look to bounce back in 2023.
There are dimes, then there’s this throw from Jalen Hurts. Could’ve been the difference. pic.twitter.com/14D7bDEbvK
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) February 14, 2023
Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports
