Saints Tight End Ben Watson Will Be Inactive for NFC Championship Game

According to an NFL source, the New Orleans Saints will inactive tight end Ben Watson for the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Watson has appendicitis and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday as team doctors tried to determine if surgery was needed. For now, Watson has avoided surgery and on Friday practiced, but the source said the Saints made the decision to inactive Watson for Sunday’s game.

On Friday, Watson was listed on the injury report as questionable.

It Watson must have surgery the turnaround time for playing in Super Bowl LIII would be very tight, should New Orleans win the NFC title. If the Saints loss the NFC Championship Game, then the final game for Watson would be last week’s win over the Eagles.

Watson, who is 38, announced earlier that this will be his last season playing in the NFL. Watson was drafted in 2004 by New England and after playing with the Patriots he has played for the Browns, Ravens and Saints. This is the second time Watson has played with New Orleans.

This season Watson has 35 receptions for 400 yards and two touchdowns. For his career, Watson has 530 receptions for 5,885 yards and 44 touchdowns.

The Saints also announced that wide receiver Keith Kirkwood will not play in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. Kirkwood caught an important touchdown pass on fourth down against the Eagles last Sunday, but suffered a calf injury that will keep him sidelined.