Kenny Watson (American football) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kenny Watson

Watson with the Cincinnati Bengals
No. 32, 33
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1978-03-13) March 13, 1978 (age 47) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:	Harrisburg (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
College:	Penn State
Undrafted:	2001
Career history
Washington Redskins (2001–2002) Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2008)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 1,651 Rushing average: 4.6 Rushing touchdowns: 9 Receptions: 135 Receiving yards: 1,015 Receiving touchdowns: 2

Kenny Watson, born on March 13, 1978, is a former American football player. He used to be a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Washington Redskins and the Cincinnati Bengals. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Penn State.

Kenny Watson's Early Life

Kenny Watson grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He went to Harrisburg High School. He was a great athlete there, playing football, basketball, and running track.

In football, he was recognized as one of the best high school players in the country. In his last year of high school, he ran for almost 1,500 yards. He also scored 23 touchdowns! After high school, he played in a special game called the Big 33 Football Classic.

College Football Career

At Penn State, Kenny was a very versatile player. He played as a tailback, wide receiver, and kick returner. A kick returner is a player who catches the ball after the other team kicks it. Then they try to run it back as far as possible.

During his senior year, he shared playing time with other talented running backs. Some of these players, like Larry Johnson, also went on to play in the NFL. Kenny holds two records at Penn State for kick returns. He has the most career kickoff returns (67) and the most career kickoff return yards (1,506 yards).

Kenny Watson's NFL Journey

Playing for the Washington Redskins

Kenny Watson joined the Washington Redskins in 2001. He was a rookie free agent, meaning he wasn't chosen in the NFL draft. He made it onto the team but didn't play in any regular season games that year.

In 2002, he played in all 16 games for the Redskins. He often filled in when other players were injured. He finished second on the team in rushing yards. He ran for 534 yards and scored two touchdowns. He stayed with Washington for the 2003 preseason. However, he was released from the team before the regular season started.

Time with the Cincinnati Bengals

Watson (left) observes a coin toss during a 2004 game.

Kenny then signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in September 2004. He played in eight games that season. He mostly played on special teams. Special teams are units used for plays like kickoffs and punts.

By the 2004 season, Kenny became known as a good player for third-down situations. He was the leading receiver among Bengals' running backs. He caught 24 passes for 162 yards. His only touchdown that season was a special one. It was Carson Palmer's first career touchdown pass.

In 2005, Kenny got a biceps injury in the first game of the season. This injury ended his season early. He signed a new contract with the Bengals in 2006. He then extended his contract for three more years in 2007.

Kenny played a lot in 2007 because other starting players were injured. In one game against the New York Jets, he had an amazing performance. He led the entire NFL in rushing yards that week. He ran for 130 yards and scored three touchdowns!

In 2008, Kenny played in the first three games for the Bengals. He was released by the team in October. This was to make room for another player, Chris Henry. However, the Bengals re-signed him just a few days later. Kenny was released by the Bengals again in August 2009.

NFL Career Stats

Here are some of Kenny Watson's career statistics in the NFL: