As expected, New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson will not play in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon as a result of appendicitis, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.

Watson has been able to avoid surgery, so if the Saints are able to defeat the Rams, there is a chance he could play in the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks.

The 38-year-old, who is retiring at the end of the year, caught one pass for 12 yards in last week's Divisional Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles. On the season overall, Watson hauled in 35 receptions for 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Watson, who played his collegiate football at the University of Georgia, was originally selected by the New England Patriots in the first round (32nd pick overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.

The Norfolk, Va. native spent the first six years of his career with the Patriots but never developed like New England thought he would. He then proceeded to sign a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns in March 2010, and that ensuing season, Watson broke out, catching 68 passes for 763 yards and three scores.

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JC Latham (Alabama), Chris Braswell (Alabama not Jaguars), Cornelieus Johnson (Michigan) in action behind a New Orleans Saints logo with a 2024 NFL Draft background.

Dylan Bruton ·

He spent three years with the Browns before joining the Saints in 2013. Watson enjoyed the best season of his career in 2015, when he snared 74 balls for 825 yards and six touchdowns in what was the final year of his first New Orleans stint.

Watson signed with the Baltimore Ravens in March 2016, but tore his Achilles in training camp, missing the entire 2016 campaign. He returned to the field with the Ravens in 2017 before signing back with the Saints this past March.