Carlos Watkins Bio
Carlos Watkins (born December 5, 1993) is an American professional football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 305 pounds, he plays on the defensive front and has been a rotation player across multiple franchises since entering the league.
Watkins played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft. Across his professional career, he has also spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Commanders, building a reputation as a durable interior and edge presence.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Watkins was born on December 5, 1993, in Forest City, North Carolina. He grew up in the small western North Carolina community and attended Chase High School, where he developed into one of the more productive defensive linemen in the region. His size and athleticism made him a focal point of the Chase defensive front from an early stage of his high school career.
As a junior at Chase High School, Watkins tallied 50 tackles, including 29 tackles for loss, and added 14.0 sacks. During his senior season, he produced 15 sacks, one interception, and five forced fumbles, performances that earned him invitations to the Shrine Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He also lettered in basketball, averaging more than 21 points and 10 rebounds per game as a junior, evidence of the coordination and competitive background that would later support his football career.
Path to Professional Football
Watkins accepted a football scholarship from Clemson University and joined the Tigers in 2012. As a true freshman, he played in nine games and recorded 16 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback pressures, giving the Clemson staff an early look at his potential. His second season was interrupted when a car crash caused blood clots in both of his legs, forcing him to medically redshirt the remainder of 2013.
He returned as a redshirt sophomore in 2014, appearing in 11 games as a backup, and then broke out as a junior in 2015, starting 14 of 15 games and posting 69 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and an interception returned for a touchdown. That production earned him first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference recognition. As a senior in 2016, he led Clemson with 13.5 tackles for loss and set the school record for defensive tackles with 10.5 sacks, collecting 82 tackles overall and earning All-ACC honors for the second consecutive year.
On January 9, 2017, Watkins was a key contributor when Clemson defeated Alabama 35–31 in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship, recording six tackles in the title game. He closed his college career with 30 starts in 53 games, 191 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks, then declared for the 2017 NFL draft.
Carlos Watkins Career
Houston Texans (2017–2020)
Watkins was selected by the Houston Texans in the fourth round, 142nd overall, of the 2017 NFL draft. The Texans acquired that pick through a trade that sent quarterback Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns. As a rookie, he appeared in 12 games with six starts, playing defensive end in a 3-4 defense and recording 21 tackles and one pass defensed.
His second season was limited, as he appeared in only four games and was declared inactive in 11 others, finishing 2018 with three tackles and one sack. In 2019, he played 10 games with one start and posted 23 tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery. In 2020, he appeared in all 16 games with 11 starts, collecting 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks as a regular member of the Texans defensive line rotation.
Dallas Cowboys First Stint (2021–2022)
On March 22, 2021, Watkins signed with the Dallas Cowboys to play as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense. He appeared in 15 games with a career-high 14 starts, making 32 tackles, one sack, one interception, and one pass breakup. On December 2, 2021, he intercepted a pass from New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill and returned it 29 yards for his first NFL touchdown, a signature moment in his first season in Dallas.
He re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year contract in March 2022. After being released on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day, he was promoted back to the active roster on October 22. He went on to appear in 12 games with 4 starts, recording 30 tackles and one forced fumble, with most of his starts coming after Johnathan Hankins was placed on injured reserve.
Arizona Cardinals (2023)
On March 30, 2023, Watkins signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He suffered a biceps injury in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2023. In his short time with the Cardinals, he appeared in two games with one start, collecting 7 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one pass defensed.
Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders (2024)
On August 14, 2024, Watkins signed with the Los Angeles Rams but was released on August 25 as part of roster trimming. Three days later, on August 28, 2024, he signed with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad and appeared in one game during his brief time in Washington.
Dallas Cowboys Second Stint (2024)
On September 18, 2024, the Dallas Cowboys signed Watkins to their active roster off the Commanders’ practice squad, marking his return to the franchise. In Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he made 4 tackles. He went on to appear in 15 games for Dallas and finished the 2024 season with 12 tackles.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On May 13, 2025, Watkins signed with the Tennessee Titans. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and was re-signed to the practice squad the next day, allowing him to continue his NFL career in Tennessee. The move positioned him to compete for an active-roster role as the 2025 season progressed.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Watkins’s career came on December 2, 2021, when he intercepted Taysom Hill and returned the pass 29 yards for his first NFL touchdown as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Earlier, on January 9, 2017, he helped Clemson defeat Alabama 35–31 in the College Football Playoff National Championship, capping his college career with a title. He also set the Clemson school record for sacks by a defensive tackle with 10.5 during the 2016 season.
Carlos Watkins Career Statistics
Through the 2024 NFL season, Carlos Watkins had recorded 151 total tackles, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, and 1 defensive touchdown across his time with the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Commanders. His statistical profile reflects a player who has contributed as a rotational defender rather than a full-time starter, with his most productive tackle totals coming during his second stint with the Cowboys.
| Team | Years | Games | Tackles | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 2017–2020 | 42 | 74 | 4 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2021–2022 | 27 | 62 | 2 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 2023 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington Commanders | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2024 | 15 | 12 | 0 |
Carlos Watkins Family
Personal Life
Carlos Watkins was born and raised in Forest City, North Carolina, the community where he also attended Chase High School. Publicly available information about his immediate family, marital status, or children is limited, and he has generally kept his personal life out of the spotlight while focusing on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Watkins joined the Tennessee Titans on May 13, 2025, adding experienced defensive line depth to the roster. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts but was re-signed to the practice squad the following day, keeping him in the Titans’ system as the regular season began.
His veteran presence on the practice squad provided Tennessee with a reliable option to promote if injuries struck along the defensive front. Having already played in a 3-4 scheme with the Texans and a 4-3 scheme with the Cowboys, Watkins offered the Titans a flexible piece capable of lining up at multiple spots along the line.
Heading into the heart of the 2025 season, Watkins remained a candidate to be elevated to the active roster as Tennessee evaluated its defensive line rotation. His familiarity with both base and sub-package defensive responsibilities made him a steady depth option as the Titans pushed toward the back half of their schedule.