The Kansas City Chiefs made one prospect reunion official on January 12, re-signing tight end Tre Watson on a reserve/future contract. Considering the uncertainty at the TE position with superstar Travis Kelce weighing retirement, Watson’s return comes as welcome news.
A-to-Z Sports Kansas City reporter Charles Goldman relayed the contract agreement on X, informing: “The Chiefs signed TE Tre Watson to a reserve/future deal. Watson spent the season on the team’s practice squad.”
Watson was one of several practice squad players with a contract that was set to expire on January 12, so KC got this reunion settled just before the deadline.
Chiefs TE Tre Watson Dealt With Injuries as a Rookie, But Reunion News Confirms KC’s Intrigue
GettyKansas City Chiefs tight end Tre Watson during the 2025 preseason.
An undrafted rookie out of Texas A&M and Fresno State, the 6-foot-5 Watson joined the Chiefs early in the offseason, but struggled with injuries throughout. Even so, he remained with the 90-man roster, a telltale sign that Kansas City likes his potential.
As Goldman noted, Watson has been with the organization throughout the course of his rookie season, as a member of the practice squad. He was targeted twice during the 2025 preseason, logging 1 reception for a total of 4 yards.
In college, Watson caught 78 passes for 862 yards and 5 touchdowns, appearing in 45 games overall. He put together a career year with Fresno State in 2023, recording 38 catches for 366 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Latest on Chiefs Superstar Travis Kelce’s Retirement Rumors
Kelce’s retirement decision has become a waiting game, and it’s likely to remain that way over the coming month.
Although the future Hall of Famer has not given a hard deadline — nor have the Chiefs — he’s hinted that he’ll try his best not to impact Kansas City’s offseason in a negative way. Meaning, he’ll most likely let general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid know what he plans to do before the start of free agency in March.
If Kelce elects to blow through that soft deadline, the next major crossroads would come in late April, with the NFL draft serving as another avenue for KC to prioritize tight end.
However, based on Reid and Kelce’s comments, it feels unlikely that the superstar will make the Chiefs wait that long.
For now, Kelce is taking some time away from the game of football, focusing on his loved ones and his family. The Chiefs rarely miss the playoffs, but the extended time off gives Kelce a solid two months to figure things out — and he may take that entire period to do so.
Kelce made it clear that his retirement decision ended up being a pretty easy one after KC came up short against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, noting that the disastrous outing left a bad taste in his mouth. Despite the way the 2025 campaign ended, Kelce did not give the impression that his decision was easy this time around.
That could be a bad sign for those hoping Kelce returns, or perhaps that has no bearing on his eventual choice.
For what it’s worth, Patrick Mahomes was not on the field for Kelce’s final few games due to injury. Considering their personal bond as teammates and friends, that could sway Kelce in returning for one final ride alongside his two-time MVP quarterback.
Chiefs Reunite With 6-Foot-5 Tight End Amid Travis Kelce Uncertainty