There was a lot that went into Kansas City Chiefs WR Justin Watson’s touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2.

First, Watson felt lucky to even be playing in the game. He was listed on the injury report this week with a chest injury and praised Chiefs athletic trainer Tiffany Morton for getting him right to play. Second, Mecole Hardman had left the field of play temporarily with an ankle injury. Watson wasn’t even supposed to be on the field for that play.

There was also something else to it.

“We talked about that route in the receiver room – I wanted that route,” Watson said. “Never want to see one of our receivers go down but (I) just want to give them the confidence that if they do have to take a play off the field that I am going to come in and do my job.”

J. WATSIX !!!

📺: #LACvsKC on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/Xhr1p9ul8A

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 16, 2022

With the opportunity to play the Chargers again, Watson suddenly had his shot at redemption and he didn’t intend to miss. Even with a different coaching staff in Los Angeles, he saw the same look and knew that the corners would be biting on those out routes. It was the perfect time to unleash the double move.

“So that’s a play that I have thought about a lot over the last two years and I saw the same look – the same type of defense,” Watson explained. “I just knew how to run it to win and Pat (Mahomes) threw a great ball obviously a great result.”

Interestingly, it wasn’t the only game-changing play that came from knowing the Chargers’ tendencies. As Watson said, there’s a lot of work that goes into these moments. From studying film to getting the timing down with your quarterback.

“There’s been a lot – a lot — of work from Texas with Pat (Mahomes) from the offseason to go in and make that catch,” he said. “I’m just glad to see the work show.”