How fast is Quez Watkins? Meet the Eagles receiver who turned a screen pass into a 79-yard TD

The Eagles are looking for contributors to step up at wide receiver in 2021. Could they have found one in Quez Watkins?

Watkins made one of the biggest plays of the preseason so far during the Eagles’ Thursday night meeting with the Steelers. He caught a quick screen pass from Joe Flacco at the end of the first quarter and managed to take it to the house.

A look at Watkins’ big play:

Who, exactly, is Quez Watkins? And what are his chances of making the Eagles’ 2021 roster? Here’s what you need to know about the wideout.

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Who is Quez Watkins?

Watkins is a second-year receiver who was drafted by the Eagles in 2020. Philadelphia spent a sixth-round selection (200th overall) on Watkins, who played college football at Southern Miss.

As shown in the clip above, Watkins’ defining trait is his speed. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. That was good for the second-fastest time among receivers in attendance, trailing only first-round pick Henry Ruggs III, who clocked in with a 4.27-second 40-yard dash.

Watkins played just 10.5 percent of the Eagles’ offensive snaps and managed seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown last season, but he has impressed during Philadelphia’s training camp this summer.

“Quez is having an awesome camp, making plays down the field,” Eagles defensive back Darius Slay said, per Eagles Wire. “He’s been consistent. He’s been working hard on and off the field. I’m going to keep working with him and helping him reach his potential.”

It seems as if Watkins is playing his way onto the Eagles’ roster, but he isn’t taking anything for granted as he competes for a spot.

“The receiving room is always competitive,” Watkins said in early August, per YardBarker. “Everybody is trying to make plays. Everybody trying to win a job, have an opportunity. So, for us, we’re always going to compete.”

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