Veteran Ravens tight end Ben Watson suffered a torn Achilles tendon on the first play of the Ravens-Lions preseason game Saturday night and will miss the 2016 season.
The Ravens signed Watson in March. He played the last three seasons with the Saints and had a career-best 74 receptions last season.
The team announced the injury not long after Watson was taken to the locker room.
Watson, 35, is a veteran of 12 NFL seasons. He’s also played for the Browns and Patriots, who drafted him with the final pick of the first round in 2004.
The Ravens had hoped Watson would catch a bunch of passes once he developed chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco, who made his preseason debut Saturday night. Flacco is recovering from a torn ACL.
Though Watson was the most experienced and durable tight end on the roster -- Watson only missed one game the last four seasons -- the Ravens are deep at the position with Crockett Gillmore, Dennis Pitta and Maxx Williams.