Ben Watson says he played through torn Achilles in 2019
Jan 4, 2020; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson (84) waves to the crowd after a loss to Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium. (Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports)
98.5 The Sports Hub staff report
Patriots tight end Ben Watson wanted a championship ending to his career bad enough to play through a torn Achilles, as Watson revealed via his Instagram story on Friday.
(For the record, this hurts to even think about doing.)
The 39-year-old Watson, who was coaxed out of retirement to rejoin the Patriots following the retirement of Rob Gronkowski, appeared in 10 games for the Patriots in 2019, and totaled 17 catches and 173 yards through the air. Watson fought valiantly in the Patriots’ wild card loss to the Titans, too, and finished with three catches for 38 yards.
Speaking with reporters after the loss, Watson seemed like a man more than content with walking away from football.
“I love playing this game, but there is a time when you definitely have to move on,” Watson offered. “Definitely won’t be back [in New England] next year probably, and probably won’t be playing at all. There is only so much your body can take and so much you can put your family through before you want to settle down and figure out what the next chapter of your life is going to be. We’re going to talk about it, of course, and make family decisions.”
You can’t say he didn’t go out swinging. Even if it was on one leg.
