Quez Watkins Bio
Terrance “Quez” Watkins is an American professional football wide receiver. Known for his speed and big-play ability, he has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals. After starring at the University of Southern Mississippi, Watkins was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft and has since built a role as a deep-threat receiver and special teams contributor.
Born in Athens, Alabama, Watkins developed into a versatile offensive weapon at Athens High School before becoming a two-time First-team All-Conference USA selection in college. He has appeared in a Super Bowl and recorded one of the longest receptions of the 2021 NFL season, establishing himself as a steady presence in professional football.
Early Life and Background
Terrance Quez Watkins was born on June 9, 1998, in Athens, Alabama. He grew up in the same small north-Alabama community and attended Athens High School, where he quickly stood out as a multi-purpose athlete on both offense and special teams.
During his junior season at Athens High School, Watkins returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the first two games of the year, showcasing the speed and field vision that would later define his professional profile. As a senior, he was named second-team 6A All-State after catching 44 passes for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns, finishing his prep career as one of the most productive receivers in the region.
Watkins drew college attention from several programs, including Georgia Southern, Middle Tennessee State, Western Kentucky, and Samford. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at Southern Miss, where he would develop into one of the top wide receivers in Conference USA.
Path to American Football
Watkins arrived at the University of Southern Mississippi and redshirted his true freshman season, using the year to adjust to the speed and complexity of the college game. The following year he posted 23 receptions for 337 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Golden Eagles a glimpse of his downfield potential.
As a redshirt sophomore, Watkins led the Southern Miss Golden Eagles with 72 receptions, 889 receiving yards, and nine touchdown catches, earning First-team All-Conference USA honors. He repeated as a first-team All-Conference USA selection as a redshirt junior after recording 64 catches for 1,178 yards and six touchdowns, despite missing the first two games of the season due to a suspension.
Following his junior campaign, Watkins announced that he would forgo his final season of NCAA eligibility and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, confident that his production and athletic profile would translate to the professional level.
Quez Watkins Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Watkins was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round with the 200th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He was placed on injured reserve early in his rookie season but returned to practice in late September and was activated on October 10, 2020. In Week 15 against the Arizona Cardinals, he caught three passes for 40 yards and scored his first career touchdown reception in a 33–26 loss, finishing his rookie year with seven receptions for 106 receiving yards and one touchdown in six games.
In 2021, Watkins established himself as the Eagles’ wide receiver two and became one of the league’s most dangerous deep threats. In Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded two receptions for 117 receiving yards, including a 91-yard catch that stood as the longest reception by any player during the 2021 NFL season. He closed the year with 43 catches for 647 yards and one touchdown.
Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Watkins continued to contribute as a complementary receiver in 2022, finishing the season with 33 receptions for 354 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. His role expanded further in 2023 as the Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In Super Bowl LVII, Watkins recorded one catch for 8 yards. During the third quarter, with Philadelphia leading by three points and positioned at the Kansas City 42-yard line, he dropped a pass that would have placed the Eagles inside the ten-yard line; the team settled for a field goal that extended its lead to six points before ultimately falling 38–35. The appearance cemented his place on one of the NFL’s biggest stages.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals Era (2024–2025)
On April 1, 2024, Watkins signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the preseason he posted one catch for 10 yards before being released ahead of the 53-man roster deadline on August 27 and re-signed to the Steelers’ practice squad.
On January 16, 2025, Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He was placed on injured reserve on August 2, 2025, and released eight days later. Shortly afterward, on September 24, 2025, he returned to the Philadelphia Eagles by signing with their practice squad, rejoining the organization that had originally drafted him.
Driving Style and Strengths
Watkins is regarded as a vertical, speed-first receiver whose primary strengths come on downfield routes and in the screen game. His 91-yard reception against the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 highlighted his acceleration and tracking ability, while his punt- and kickoff-return background underscores the open-field vision that makes him dangerous in space.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Watkins’s signature moments are his first career touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, his 91-yard catch against the 49ers in 2021, and his appearance in Super Bowl LVII following the 2023 season. His two First-team All-Conference USA selections in 2018 and 2019 also stand as defining college milestones.
Quez Watkins Career Wins
Watkins has built his professional resume around big-play receptions rather than championship victories, with his most prominent career highlights tied to deep catches and postseason appearances.
NFL Highlights
Watkins has recorded notable single-game performances for the Philadelphia Eagles, including his 91-yard reception against the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 and his first career touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. He appeared in Super Bowl LVII with the Eagles after the 2023 season, capping a stretch in which he served as a reliable secondary option in the passing game.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Watkins was a two-time First-team All-Conference USA selection in 2018 and 2019, leading the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches during his redshirt sophomore season. His senior season at Athens High School also included second-team 6A All-State recognition after 44 catches for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Quez Watkins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Watkins grew up in Athens, Alabama, where he developed his athletic foundation. Detailed information about his parents or extended family is not publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Watkins goes by the nickname “Quez” and maintains an active presence on social media. Details about a spouse or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Watkins opened 2025 with the Arizona Cardinals after signing a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2025. He was placed on injured reserve on August 2, 2025, and released eight days later, ending his Cardinals tenure before the regular season.
On September 24, 2025, Watkins signed with the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad, returning to the franchise that drafted him in 2020. The move placed him back in a familiar offensive system while giving him an opportunity to work his way back onto an active roster.
Looking ahead, Watkins will look to leverage his speed and special-teams experience to carve out a role in Philadelphia. His track record as a deep threat, including the longest reception of the 2021 NFL season, gives the Eagles a familiar veteran option as the season unfolds.