**Chiefs' Cornerback Jaylen Watson to Undergo Surgery for Broken Ankle**

Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson is set to have surgery soon to address a broken ankle, as initially reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The injury, specifically identified as a broken fibula-tibia, was confirmed after a series of tests.

At 26 years old, Watson had earned the starting cornerback role straight out of training camp and had been a standout player for the Chiefs. Prior to injuring himself during the game against the San Francisco 49ers, Watson had accumulated 32 tackles, with 21 of them being solo, and had defended six passes. As of this week, Pro Football Focus rated him as the 28th best cornerback in the league, while his teammate Trent McDuffie was ranked 17th.

Replacing Watson will likely be third-year cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, another seventh-round pick. Head coach Andy Reid expressed confidence in Johnson's readiness, noting his improvement and growing strength with each passing week. Reid also mentioned Joshua Williams, emphasizing the need for both players to step up and fill the gap left by Watson's injury.

There is a slim chance that Watson may return for the playoffs, a timeline comparable to that of wide receiver Hollywood Brown. The Chiefs are also looking forward to the potential return of defensive lineman Charles Omenihu and running back Isiah Pacheco during the regular season, providing a glimmer of hope for the latter part of their campaign.